Welcome, Pope Francis

By THA SC

Bangkok, Thailand, 21 November 2019 -- His Holiness, Pope Francis arrived in Thailand at 12.30 p.m., 20 November 2019. There was an official welcome for Him at the Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok. After this, His Holiness proceeded to the Vatican Embassy of Thailand where He would be lodging throughout the duration of His visit.

This visit to Thailand from 20-23 November 2019 is held in order to join in the celebrations of the 350 years of Christianity in Thailand and the 50 years of diplomatic relationship between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Vatican State. This apostolic visit is the 32nd pastoral visit of His Holiness. Pope Francis is the second Pope to make an official visit to The Kingdom of Thailand after a period of 35 years since St. John Paul II was the Royal Guest on 10-11 May 1984.

This present apostolic visit of Pope Francis is a pilgrimage of peace as has been announced during the first press release. "Pope Francis is so happy to visit The Kingdom of Thailand to be a pilgrimage of peace and to dialogue with other religions. His Holiness will preside at two celebrations of the Holy Mass, for the Catholics as a whole and for the young."

Prof. Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, Consultor of the Pontifical Council of Social Communications, said that in the visits of His Holiness who is a leader, He comes to visit His children, even though He is quite old and His health is not so good. Yet, He desires to visit the Christians and the people of the world to bring peace, love, and good wishes.

Pope Francis gives much importance to peace. He emphasizes always that all people should sacrifice oneself to help the destitute. There is no such thing as a dishonorable and degrading action if that action is done to help and free mankind from sorrow and pain, just like what His Holiness had done to sow peace, when the President of Sudan visited Him at the Vatican. The Pope knelt down to kiss his feet, and said "let us help one another to sow peace.”

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS FRANCIS

Tuesday 19 November 2019

ROME – BANGKOK

- 19:00 - Departure by plane from Rome Fiumicino Airport for Bangkok

Wednesday 20 November 2019

ROME – BANGKOK

- 12:30 - Arrival at Military Air Terminal 2 of Bangkok

- 12:30 - OFFICIAL WELCOME at Military Air Terminal 2 of Bangkok

Thursday 21 November 2019

BANGKOK

- 09:00 - WELCOME CEREMONY in the Government House courtyard

- 09:15 - MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTER in the “Inner Ivory Room” of the 

            Government House

- 09:30 - MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC 

              CORPS in the “Inner Santi Maitri” Hall of the Government House

              Speech of the Holy Father

- 10:00 - VISIT TO THE SUPREME BUDDHIST PATRIARCH at Wat Ratchabophit 

              Sathit Maha Simaram Temple

              Greeting of the Holy Father

- 11:15 - MEETING WITH THE MEDICAL STAFF OF ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL

              Greeting of the Holy Father

- 12:00 - PRIVATE VISIT TO INFIRM AND DISABLED PEOPLE at St. Louis Hospital  

              Lunch at the Apostolic Nunciature

- 16:55 - PRIVATE VISIT TO HIS MAJESTY THE KING MAHA VAJIRALONGKORN 

              “RAMA X” at Amphorn Royal Palace

- 18:00 - HOLY MASS in the National Stadium

               Homily of the Holy Father

Friday 22 November 2019

BANGKOK

- 10:00 - MEETING WITH PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS, SEMINARIANS AND 

              CATECHISTS in St Peter’s Parish

              Speech of the Holy Father

- 11:00 - MEETING WITH THE BISHOPS OF THAILAND AND FABC at the Blessed  

              Nicholas Boonkerd Kitbamrung Shrine

              Speech of the Holy Father

- 11:50 - PRIVATE MEETING WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS 

              in a hall close to the Shrine Lunch at the Apostolic Nunciature

- 15:20 - MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF THE CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS 

              AND OTHER RELIGIONS at Chulalongkorn University

              Speech of the Holy Father

- 17:00 - HOLY MASS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE at Assumption Cathedral

              Homily of the Holy Father

Saturday 23 November 2019

BANGKOK-TOKYO

- 09:15 - FAREWELL CEREMONY at Military Air Terminal 2 of Bangkok

- 09:30 - Departure by plane for Tokyo

- 17:40 - Arrival at Tokyo-Haneda Airport

- 17:40 - WELCOME CEREMONY at Tokyo-Haneda Airport

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