Pope Francis' next trip is his first one since he underwent intestinal surgery. His recovery will be put to the test. It's also his first trip since his visit to Iraq last March.
That trip was particularly special. It was the first one since the beginning of the pandemic. At the end of that trip, Pope Francis admitted that it had tired him out more than usual.
POPE FRANCIS
'I don't know if I'll travel less. But I will confess that this trip tired me out much more than others. Eighty-four years don't go unnoticed. It's one of the consequences. We'll see.'
Despite his fatigue, the Pope has already announced that he will soon visit three more European countries: Cyprus, Greece and Malta.
His upcoming trip, which will start on Sunday, will be very intense: five cities in two countries, Hungary and Slovakia, in four days, with 10 speeches.
The Pope will leave Rome at 6 a.m. In Hungary, his first destination, he will celebrate the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress.
He will then travel to Bratislava in the afternoon.
He will spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday meeting with civil and religious authorities, representatives of the Jewish community and young people in Slovakia.
He will also visit a Roma community and a homeless shelter managed by the Missionaries of Charity.
Javier Romero
TR: CT
