Pope Francis announces trip to Hungary and Slovakia in September

Pope Francis during the traditional Regina Coeli Sunday prayer in the Vatican, hours before being admitted to Gemelli Hospital for colon surgery, July 4, 2021. via REUTERS - VATICAN MEDIA

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Pope Francis has announced a trip to Hungary and Slovakia from September 12 to 15.

A lightning stopover in Budapest and three much denser days in Slovakia, which should allow the Sovereign Pontiff to meet the populations of Central Europe. 

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With our correspondent in Rome, 

Éric Sénanque

For once, it is the Pope himself who announced his trip and not the spokesperson for the Holy See.

Due to the pandemic, this will only be the second papal trip this year, after

Iraq

last March.

Francis will begin his trip on September 12 to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, to concelebrate the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress, an event organized every four years.

This will be the first Pontifical Mass in Budapest for 30 years.

A stage of a few hours during which François could also meet there informally the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, diametrically opposed to his vision of welcoming migrants.

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To read also: 130 migrants missing in the Mediterranean: a "shame" for Pope Francis

But it is especially Slovakia that will be at the heart of this journey with four stages, starting with Bratislava, the capital. Another symbolic city, Košice, second Slovak city, located in the east of the country. A crossroads city, located on the borders of Poland, Romania and Ukraine. A way for the Sovereign Pontiff to address all of Central Europe in this Slavic world where Catholics, Orthodox or Christians of the Greco-Byzantine rite live. 

The Vatican has also announced that the Pope will undergo this Monday a "

scheduled 

"

surgery 

in a hospital in Rome for inflammation of the colon.

After celebrating the traditional Sunday prayer at the window of the Sainte-Marthe residence for the faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square on Sunday at noon, he was then admitted to a hospital in Rome for his intervention.

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• Vatican

• Pope Francis

• Hungary

• Slovakia