Pope to visit Kazakhstan

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis flies to Kazakhstan on Tuesday, on his 38th Apostolic Journey. On the two-day visit he will participate in the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Nur-Sultan as well as meeting the country's small Catholic population. This year's Congress will hold a special session devoted to the social status of women for the first time in its history.

The Holy Father will be following in the footsteps of his predecessor, St John Paul II, who was the first Pope to visit the country in September 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks in America. During his visit, St John Paul II applauded the peaceful coexistence of religions and ethnicities, such as Kazakh, Russian, Ukrainian, and many others, within the country.

Kazakhstan gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Situated just south of Russia, the country borders other former Soviet republics, as well as China and the Caspian Sea. It is the world's ninth-largest country in terms of landmass, and the world's largest landlocked nation. It also has Central Asia's largest economy and is home to its only Catholic seminary, located in Karaganda.

During the 13-15 September visit, the Pope will stay in the capital, Nur-Sultan (formerly known as Astana).

Highlights of the journey will include the Pope's participation at the Congress, where he will give a discourse, pray in silence, and engage in private discussions with religious leaders, including the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Al Tayyeb.

The Congress dates back to 2003 and takes place every three years in the Kazakh capital. The last to take place was in 2018, however, due to the pandemic.

Pope Francis will also celebrate Mass for the country's Catholics, who make up about one percent of the nation's 19 million Kazakhs.

The population of Kazakhstan is 70 percent Sunni Muslim, and 26 percent Christian, primarily Russian Orthodox.

Polish-born Archbishop Tomasz Peta, head of Kazakhstan's only Archdiocese - Astana - said the visit will be 'a great blessing' for Catholics and entire country.

He said: "taking into consideration the dramatic international situation, the current visit bears the hope for peace and reconciliation on a global scale.

"We are very grateful, that the Holy Father will bless a new icon: the triptych of the 'Mother of the Great Steppe' in the Catholic Cathedral of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Nur-Sultan. This icon is destined for our National Shrine of the Queen of Peace in Ozyornoye. It will remind us of the Papal visit. We will pray in Ozyornoye in the spiritual union with the Pope for peace and in the intentions of the Pope."