Slovakia" "
John Paul II’s apostolic journey to Slovakia will take place from 11 to 14 September. It will be the Pope’s 102nd journey outside Italy. The trip was announced on 14 June by the deputy director of the Holy See’s Press Room, Father Ciro Benedettini, who also gave details of the Pope’s itinerary: Trnava, Banská Bystrica, Roznava and Bratislava. The beatification of the martyrs and Servants of God Basilio Hopko and Zdenka Schelingova (one a man, the other a woman) is expected to take place during the visit. That will be the most important ceremony during what will be the Pope’s third apostolic journey to Slovak territory, the second after its separation from the Czech Republic. According to the programme, the Pope will stay in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, from where he will travel to the other cities he is due to visit during his stay. “The first stage explains the spokesman of the Slovak bishops, Msgr. Marian Gavenda will be the cathedral of St. John the Baptist at Trnava, which will be followed, on 12 September, by the visit to Banska Bistrica, where a celebration with the announcement of the start of the diocesan Synod is planned. On the following day the Pope will be in Roznava, where he will preside over mass in the sports field of Podrakos. The 14 September will be dedicated to Bratislava: the beatification of the two martyrs, witnesses of Slovak faith, and victims of the Communist regime, the Servants of God Basilio Hopko and Zdenka Schelingova, will take place in the esplanade of Petrzalka”. “In Slovakia concludes the spokesman great expectations have been aroused by this visit. Reflecting the motto adopted for the visit, ‘Faithful to Christ, faithful to the Church’, the bishops have published a pastoral letter inviting the faithful to prepare for it through confession and participation in the special catechesis planned in the dioceses on the significance of the mission and role of the Pope in the Church”. In Slovakia, out of 5 million inhabitants, some 60% are Catholics (7.9% are Protestants, 1% Orthodox); they are divided into 8 dioceses and 1,480 parishes (to which should be added a further 45 pastoral centres, 3 Catholic schools, and 89 charitable associations). Relations between the Slovak Republic and the Holy See are regulated by a basic accord ratified on 18 December 2000.
