Vatican City: The country and the people are ready to receive Pope Francis who is coming to visit Kazakhstan, an Islamic majority country. This is the first time that Kazakhstan will host a papal visit since the visit of Saint John Paul II two decades ago (2001). The theme of the tour, which will be held from September 13 to 15, is ‘Ambassadors of Peace and Unity’. The Pope’s visit comes in the context of an interfaith conference hosted by the city of Nur Sutan, the Kazakh capital.
On September 13, the Pope will arrive at Nur Sultan International Airport at 5.45 and will be received at the Presidential Palace at 6.30. After the meeting with the President, he will address the heads of state, civic leaders and diplomats. On September 14, at 10:00 am, the Pope will arrive at the conference venue of the religious leaders. After the opening ceremony, there will be a silent prayer with the religious leaders. Then there will be meetings with various religious leaders. The Divine Sacrifice is arranged at the altar of the Expo Ground at 4.45 pm.
Private meeting with members of the Church of Jesus at the Apostolic Nunciature on September 15 at 09.00 am. At 10.30 a meeting with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated persons, seminary students and lay ministers will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Pope will also participate in the closing meeting of world religious leaders at 03:00 in the followingnoon. The Pope will depart from Nur-Sultan Airport at 04.15 pm and arrive at Fiumicino International Airport in Rome at 08.15 Vatican time.
The triennial interfaith conference in Kazakhstan was started in 2003 by former Kazakh President Nur Sultan Nazar Babaev, inspired by the Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi convened by Saint John Paul II in 1986 to promote interfaith dialogue, peace and unity. This year’s theme is ‘The Role of World Leaders, Traditional Beliefs and Leaders in the Social and Spiritual Development of Humanity following the Pandemic’.
Once part of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan’s population, which gained independence on December 16, 1991, is 70% Muslim and 25% Christian. Catholics make up less than one percent of these. The majority of the Catholic population of around two and a half million are of Polish, German and Lithuanian origin. There is also the Greek and Oriental Church community. Kazakhstan has one archdiocese, two dioceses and one apostolic vicariate.
Shalom World will stream the Papal tour live. Shalom World is available on all major OTT platforms, smart TVs including Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android and iOS devices. For more information visit: shalomworld.org For more information on accessing Shalom Channel on various devices visit: shalomworld.org/watchon and Shalom World’s web site (shalomworldtv.org/live), YouTube (youtube.com/watch), Facebook page (facebook.com/shalomworld) will also be available to watch live.
