Twenty years after the last papal visit to Romania, between May 31 and June 2, Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, will visit our country. This special event brings new impetus to Romania and the Catholic community in the country. Exclusively for EVZ, Father Wilhem Danca – the  responsible for mass media of the event and the Dean of the Faculty of Catholic Theology in Bucharest, explains the stage of preparation for the Papal visit, but also the historical significance of this moment.

Pope Francis was invited to visit our country, a few years ago, both by the Presidency of Romania, the Government, and the Conference of Bishops of Romania. Although initially the Pontiff would have wanted to come to the Year of the Centenary, he responded to the invitation and announced his presence for 2019. “Indeed, it was hoped the Pope would come in 2018. Obviously a part of Romania would have enjoyed it, because it was the Centenary Year, but in our country in Transylvania, there are many Roman Catholics who are of Hungarian ethnicity. For them, as we have Romania today, it is not necessarily a reason for joy. From a pastoral and prudent point of view, Pope Francis postponed it to have those pastoral connotations”, explains to EVZ, Father Francis Dobos, the spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest.

Why he did not come in the Centenary Year

“The moment when Pope Francis decided to come to Romania, he was told that such a presence is needed in our country, precisely to send a signal of encouragement to Catholic Christians and Orthodox Christians in the context of the fragmentation of multicultural, post-communist societies. They must not lose their identity but cultivate their Christian calling in a world exposed to all sorts of challenges of globalism. It is also a duty of Pope Francis, for any Pope as a successor to St. Peter is called according to Gospel texts: “Behold Petre, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I prayed for you so that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers! “That is what Pope Francis is doing now in Romania. He strengthens his brothers and sisters in faith”, explains Father Wilhem. He continues to explain that the second reason is pastoral. “He goes and visits his faithful where they are. Visits the Archdiocese of Bucharest, the Archbishopric of Iasi, the Archbishopric of Alba Iulia with the Sumuleu Sanctuary and the Archbishopric of Blaj. He chose these bishops, because in Bucharest and Iasi, the Pontiff sovereign will meet Roman Catholic Christians. In Sumuleu, Catholic Christians of Latin rite, but of Hungarian language. In Blaj, there are Christians of Byzantine – or Greek – Catholic rite – and of Romanian. The pope includes this diversity that exists in the Catholic Church in Romania”, Father Wilhem confesses.

He will meet with Patriarch Daniel

The third component of the Papal visit is the ecumenical one, for the Pontiff sovereign “wishes to cultivate bridges, to cultivate meeting times with Orthodox churches – even has an expression” culture of encounter ” with those different from me in his liturgical or linguistic expression , but to meet, to stand together to build a society based on the common good. Pope Francis wanted his visit to have this ecumenical component”, says Father Wilhem Danca. Also, the Pope will meet with Patriarch Daniel and Orthodox believers “in a specific place, which may be both the National Cathedral or the Cathedral on the Patriarchal Hill. The meeting between Pope Francis and Patriarch Daniel will surely be different from their predecessors. The quality of this meeting will depend on opening one from the other. Patriarch Teoctist met with Pope John Paul II before the 1999 visit. When the two heads of the Orthodox and Catholic Church met again, they felt they knew eachother beforehand”, adds Father Wilhem Danca. The last component of the Pope is the state visit because it will also have meetings with the political world in Romania.

Where will the head of the Catholic Church be accommodated?

The detailed prognosis of the visit of the Pontiff Sovereign is today communicated by the Vatican through the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest. The composition of the Holy Father’s suite will be known exactly 10 days before his arrival in Romania but, as is customary in the pastoral visits of the Pontiff Sovereign outside the Vatican, Pope Francis will be accompanied by the Vatican Masters of Ceremonies – the one who prepares the ceremonies , the visiting protocol head – the one who prepares the visits, the Apostolic Nuncio of that country – for our country is Miguel Maury Buendia – the permanent representative of the Holy See together with the bishop of the place and the president of the Ecclesiastical Preparatory Commission for the Pope’s visit, Bishop Mihai Frăţilă .

Protected by undercover snipers and priests

“Wherever the Sovereign Pontiff goes, he will be accommodated at the Nunciature or Embassy of the Holy See – which is considered the Pope’s House. When he goes abroad for a visit, the Pope is accommodated there. The other members of the papal suite will most likely be accommodated in the hotels near the Nuntiature”, explains Father Wilhem. To participate in the liturgical moments officiated by Pope Francis, believers can opt for the two types of participation: based on an access pass – which is released by the host bishop and can be reached in the zero zone. “This is strictly controlled by the Romanian Protection and Guard Services (SPP). Beyond that area, absolutely anyone can come, without any permission. Obviously, they will be controlled if they have blunt objects, etc. Each episcopate will announce on its own sites how to lift the zero zone permits. Those who want will sign a declaration that they agree with the processing of personal data”, adds Father Wilhem Danca and continues to explain that in order to prepare and secure the security of Pope Francis, he collaborates with the SPP and the other institutions. “Especially for the zero zone I was telling you. There are also priests who receive such training and will be strategically placed to see if something unusual happens. It studies the place where Pope Francis will pass, the route itself and make their own plan of action. There will also be snipers who will watch the safety of the Pontiff Sovereign. Pope Francis refuses to use an armored car, using a simple car. He trusts, saying that nothing will happen to him”, concludes Father Wilhem.

Source: evz.ro (Translation TFP)