Pope prays at Basilica of St Mary Major before visit to Lesbos

Salus Populi Romani

Pope Francis made his customary visit to the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome on Thursday evening, ahead of his Apostolic Journey to the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, 16 April. During the course of his 30-minute visit to the Salus populi Romani icon, the Holy Father presented a bouquet of white and blue roses, the colours of the Greek flag, to the ancient Marian icon before pausing for a moment of silent prayer.

Pope Francis will spend six hours on Lesbos, together with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Ieronymus II.

"Lesbos ... is very close to the Turkish coast, just a few kilometres," explained Vatican spokesman F. Federico Lombardi, SJ, at a press briefing on Thursday. "This is the reason so many migrants go to the island of Lesbos."

Father Lombardi said the visit will have a humanitarian and ecumenical perspective. "It does not directly touch on political positions, or other such things, but their focus is fundamentally humanitarian, experienced in an ecumenical key," Father Lombardi said.

After arriving by plane on the island, Pope Francis will meet briefly with the Prime Minister of Greece, and then travel to the Mòria refugee camp, which is home to about 2,500 people.

The three religious leaders will have a special meeting with minors at the camp, as well as 250 asylum seekers.

"The presence of minors, children, orphans - even those on their own - is very typical in these situations," Father Lombardi said. "Therefore, it is right to give them particular attention."

While at the camp, a joint declaration will be signed, and Pope Francis and the other religious leaders will have lunch with some of the refugees.

Pope Francis will also have a meeting with the small local Catholic community. There are about 100 Catholics on Lesbos, and other Catholics in Greece will travel to the island to attend the encounter.

"Keep in mind that there is also a presence of the Catholic Church in Greece. Although very small in quantitative terms, it is still present," Father Lombardi said.

At the end of the visit, the three religious leaders will hold a memorial for all the victims of the migration crisis, and observe a moment of silence for those who have died. Returning to the airport, Pope Francis will meet privately with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymus and have a second private meeting with the prime minister before leaving for Rome.

Source: Vatican Radio