Pope wants to continue travelling despite knee problems

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Despite knee problems, Pope Francis wants to continue travelling. The Pope made the announcement Friday when he received in audience at the Vatican the executives and staff of ITA Airways, the Italian airline that accompanies him on international trips.

The Pope praised “the very valuable service” of the airline staff, which “requires competence, care and attention to many details.” He did have some mobility problems, “but also thanks to your help I will continue to travel,” Francis said.

“For me it is important to meet people, communities, believers, members of other religions, women and men of good will. (…) A personal encounter, a personal conversation is something different than being present with a message, or with a video,” the 86-year-old said.

“As long as God wants”
“The Pope travels to strengthen his brothers and sisters in the faith, to be close to those who suffer, to help those who work for peace. All this is possible also thanks to you. For this I thank you, and as long as God wills, we will continue to fly together,” the Pope told ITA personnel.

At the same time, he confirmed his plan to travel to Hungary at the end of April. “In two weeks, God willing, I will leave for my 41st apostolic pilgrimage to Hungary. Then it will be on to Marseilles, Mongolia and all the other places on the waiting list,” said the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Three days in Budapest
After his short visit of only seven hours to Budapest in 2021, this time, the head of the Church will spend three days – from April 28 to 30 – in the Hungarian capital. Among other things, talks are planned with Hungary’s President Katalin Novak and the head of government Viktor Orban. On the last day of the visit, a large Sunday Mass with Pope Francis was announced in Kossuth Square in front of the Hungarian parliament building.

The 86-year-old plans to travel to the French port city of Marseille on September 23. “Possibly I will fly from Marseille to Mongolia, but that is not yet definite,” the Pope said in February.