Morocco: Archbishop of Rabat Looks Forward to Pope’s Visit

“For us who want to live and deepen the communion between us and the Moroccan people, Pope Francis’ visit will be a magnificent opportunity to show and live our communion with the Bishop of Rome and, through him, with the universal Church”, said Archbishop Cristóbal López of Rabat.

His comments came in a November 14, 2018, note in which he expresses on behalf of the Bishops of Morocco the joy for the announcement of Pope Francis’ visit to the Country. It was reported by Fides News Agency.

Yesterday, November 13, the Vatican Press Office announced that “Welcoming the invitation of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and of the Bishops, Pope Francis will travel to Morocco from March 30-31, stopping in the cities of Rabat and Casablanca”.

“The Pope comes in response to the invitation of His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, and of the Church who is a pilgrim in Morocco. He will pay a visit to the Moroccan people and to the ecclesial community, including the many brothers who are passing through Morocco and who are migrating to Europe in situations of great difficulty”, underlined Archbishop López.

Coming to the goals of the Holy Father’s visit to a country with a Muslim majority whose small Catholic community consists of foreign residents and migrants, the Archbishop wrote: “The Pope’s mission, as the successor of the Apostle Peter, is that to confirm us in faith. It is the main purpose of his visit. He comes to know us, to share our life a little, to encourage us, to pray with us and to bless us. He also comes to get in touch with the Moroccan people and their authorities, especially His Majesty, the King, in the spirit of the interreligious Islamic-Christian dialogue that both of them want to promote”.

Pending the publication of the detailed program of the papal visit, Archbishop López invited the faithful “to daily, personal, parish, group and family prayer, so that the papal journey will bear fruit”.

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