The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT) has announced that the welcoming ceremony for Pope Francis, who is scheduled to visit Thailand from November 19 to 23, will be arranged in a simple and dignified manner.
On Monday (Oct 28), the CBCT Deputy Secretary-General, Mercier Dr. Vissanu Thanya–Anan, said Pope Francis is to meet with His Holiness Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, at Ratchabophit Sathit Maha Simaram temple on November 21. The Pope will then have an audience with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall in the Dusit Palace. The Pope will also meet with Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, cabinet minsters and members of the diplomatic corps at Government House.
Pope Francis is to visit Saint Louis Hospital in Sathon district, Bangkok, to meet with physicians, nurses, medical personnel, patients, senior citizens and persons with disabilities. In the evening, the Head of the Catholic Church will attend a Missa ceremony at Suphachalasai stadium. The religious event will be attended by 50,000 Christians from 11 religious congregations.
On November 22, Pope Francis is to meet with a group of bishops, priests, Jesuits, nuns, ascetics, preachers, apprentices and other religious members at Saint Peter’s Church in Sampran district, Nakhon Pathom province. He will then proceed to Chulalongkorn University to meet with Christian leaders of various denominations, teachers and students. He will visit the Assumption Cathedral in Bang Rak district of Bangkok to attend another Missa ceremony. The event will be joined by 4,000 young Thais.
About 70,000 people in Thailand and other ASEAN member states have signed up to welcome Pope Francis, with some 300 Thai and foreign media teams planning to cover his visit next month. For more updates, please visit www.popevisitthailand.com.
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