The Secretary of state of the papal throne will visit Minsk and will meet with Lukashenko
The Secretary of state of the Holy see Cardinal Pietro Parolin (the second-ranking Hierarch of the Catholic Church) in mid-March, will pay a three-day visit to Belarus, where he will hold a meeting with Alyaksandr Lukashenka, announced on Tuesday the Vatican radio.
The cardinal will arrive in Minsk at the invitation of the authorities of Belarus on March 12. It is assumed that in addition to meeting with the President of the country, the Vatican guest will visit the Orthodox Exarch of all Belarus, Metropolitan Paul, will speak to the local Catholic bishops and young people. Also Cardinal Parolin sanctify the cornerstone of the new building of the Apostolic Nunciature (Embassy of the Vatican) in Minsk.
Catholic bishops consider the upcoming visit as a high estimation by the Holy see peacekeeping mission of Belarus to the conflict in Ukraine and the expression of deep respect for the Belarusian people and the Catholics of the country. Apostolic Nunciature expressed deep gratitude to Pope Francis for this friendly initiative ".
Pietro Parolin was born fifteen January 1955 in Schiavone, the province of Vicenza (Italy), in 1980, became a priest. In 1986 he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy see, in 2009 he became Apostolic Nuncio in Venezuela in 2013 was appointed Secretary of state of the Holy see. February 22, 2014 Pope Francis has elevated him to cardinal dignity.
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