ROME — Pope Francis will travel to Kazakhstan from September 13-15 to participate in the Congress of Leaders of Globe and Common Religions, the Vatican confirmed on August 1.

For months, Francis has expressed his intent to take part in the congress, which is staying hosted by the Kazakh federal government in its cash, Nur-Sultan. There, he will also most likely have his second ever meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, a critical backer of Russia’s war against Ukraine who is also established to go to the congress. 

Francis and Kirill satisfied in Havana in 2016 in the 1st these kinds of experience involving a Roman Catholic pope and Russian patriarch.

The journey to Kazakhstan will mark the 38th intercontinental trip of the Francis papacy and comes on the heels of a grueling six-day July 24-30 tour through Canada, where the pope apologized for the abuse that Indigenous youngsters endured at Catholic-operate residential colleges, as nicely as for the church’s adoption of guidelines that stripped away Indigenous society.

On the return flight back to Rome, Francis advised reporters that the excursion had been “really rigorous” and acknowledged that upcoming vacation schedules would have to be scaled back. 

At the exact same time, the 85-12 months-aged pope, who is struggling from mobility difficulties thanks to a fracture in his knee, explained he intended to make the trip to Central Asia to go to the Kazakhstan congress, as perfectly as a likely vacation to Ukraine in the coming months.

This October, the Vatican will mark its 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Muslim-greater part region of Kazakhstan.   

The Sept. 14-15 collecting will mark the seventh iteration of the congress, which provides collectively spiritual leaders from close to the entire world. This year’s topic is on “The Role of Leaders of Earth and Classic Faiths in the Socio-Non secular Advancement of Humanity right after the Pandemic.” 

A complete program of the pope’s itinerary has however to be produced.