Today begins Pope’s Francis’ first visit to Slovakia: A busy schedule, prepare for the restrictions – Topky.sk

The Pope will come to Slovakia eight years after the first invitation. The day after his arrival in 2013, he was addressed to him by President Ivan Gašparovič. Over the next few years, it was repeated at various meetings by other state officials, including the current head of state, Zuzana Čaputová. The visit was officially confirmed on July 4. The President believes that the Pope’s presence in Slovakia will be a message of reconciliation and hope in the difficult times we live.

On Sunday afternoon, they will welcome the Pope at Bratislava Airport. An ecumenical meeting at the Apostolic Nunciature in Bratislava and a private meeting with members of the Society of Jesus will follow. On Monday (September 13), the Pope is waiting for a program at the Presidential Palace. He will have a courtesy visit to the President of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Čaputová, as well as a meeting with representatives of the state, civil society and the diplomatic corps in the palace garden.

In the Cathedral of St. Martin, he will meet bishops, priests, consecrated persons, seminarians and catechists. He will visit the Bethlehem center in Bratislava privately. He will also have a meeting with the Jewish community on Rybné náměstí. On Monday evening, Speaker Boris Kollár and Prime Minister Eduard Heger will meet with the Pope at the Apostolic Nunciature.

Source: SITA / AP Photo / Andrew Medichini

Tuesday’s program in the east

Tuesday’s (September 14) program will take place in eastern Slovakia. It will begin with the divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom in front of the city sports hall in Prešov, which will be presided over by the Holy Father. In Košice, he will meet the Roma community in Luník IX. and young people at the local stadium.

The last day of the visit, Wednesday, September 15, will be spent by the Pope in Šaštín. After a prayer meeting with the bishops, a Holy Mass with the homily of the Holy Father will be held at the National Shrine. Those vaccinated against COVID-19 can register for events with the Pope until midnight on Sunday. They have previously signed up for OTP (vaccination, testing, overcoming) sectors due to capacity constraints resulting from epidemiological regulations.

Hundreds of journalists want to map the visit

Events with the Pope’s visit will significantly affect traffic in individual cities, and restrictions must be taken into account at the borders. 580 journalists from all over the world want to map the visit. With the pope himself, 80 journalists and media workers will come to Slovakia directly on the plane. Among them will be three Slovaks, who represent two newsrooms.

Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, became pope on March 13, 2013. He succeeded Benedict XVI. and took the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. He is the first non-European pope for more than a millennium and the first ever head of a Catholic church on the American continent. He is also the first Holy Father to come from the Society of Jesus (Order of the Jesuits).

The head of the Catholic Church will visit Slovakia for the fourth time. Pope John Paul II visited Slovakia three times. For the first time, in 1990, as a part of Czechoslovakia, in 1995 and 2003 already as an independent republic. The visit of Pope Francis is accompanied by the motto “With Mary and Joseph on the way to Jesus”.

Traffic restrictions in Bratislava and at the border will also be on Sunday

Pope Francis’ visit to the capital required temporary closures of several roads and communications, which will be related to the interruption of public transport (MHD) and changes on some lines. Traffic restrictions will apply when traffic is interrupted for the necessary time. At the same time, stopping and standing will be prohibited along the routes, including sidewalks. Restrictions should also be considered on adjacent roads that are fed to closed roads. Restrictions will also affect borders.

Public transport restrictions throughout the period

The buses of line 147 will not run through Calvary and line 41 will run on a modified route: Depot Hroboňova – Drotárska cesta – Búdková, following the trolleybus line 203.

Public transport restrictions on Sunday

– In the period from approximately 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm, several roads will be closed, especially in the vicinity of the airport and on the route of moving the Holy Father to the center. Public transport will be interrupted in the sections: Airport – Avion Shopping Park, Mlynská dolina – Patrónka – Pražská – Sokolská. Some lines will be shortened or diverted along detour routes.

– Bus line 61 will be strengthened between 12.00 and 14.30.

– The changes will affect bus and trolleybus lines 21, 25, 30, 31, 32, 37, 39, 41, 61, 63, 65, 69, 83, 92, 96, 147, 204 and 207.

Traffic restrictions on Sunday

– Delays should be expected mainly on the D1 motorway bypass and the D2 motorway from the border crossing with Austria and Hungary, in the Mlynská valley and in the Old Town around the Mountain Park:

– surroundings of MR Štefánik Airport: 12.00 – 16.00 h,

– D2 motorway from Peč to Lanfranconi Bridge: 15.15 – 16.00,

– Ivanská cesta, motorway D1 (bypass), motorway D2 (bypass), Mlynská dolina, junction of Patrónka, Brnianska, Street Prokopa Veľkého, Lesná: 15.30 – 16.30 h.

Border restrictions on Sunday

– border crossings Jarovce – Kittsee and Čunovo – Rajka in the direction to the Slovak Republic for freight transport: 15.00 – 16.00 h.