The challenges of migration will be high on the agenda of Pope Francis during his two-day visit to Morocco on March 30, bishops in the African country said Tuesday.
The Pope’s visit comes in response to the invitation of King Mohammed VI and the country’s Bishops.
Archbishop of Tangier Santiago Agrelo Martinez, Archbishop of Rabat Cristobal Lopez Romero and Archbishop of Casablanca Daniel Nourissat announced on Tuesday the visit’s program under the slogan “Servant of Hope.”
This visit “comes as part of a theme of solidarity with migrants in a country that has bravely chosen a policy to welcome” migrants, said Nourissat during a press conference at Casablanca's Notre Dame church.
He added that this is an opportunity for Pope Francis to reaffirm and support the UN-led Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), which took place in Marrakesh last December to urge the international community to be responsible towards migrants.
Nourissat pointed out that Christianity in Morocco is experiencing a new breakthrough as African migrants, mainly students and youths, making up about 60 percent of worshipers in Moroccan churches.
Regarding Catholic education in Morocco, Nourrisat explained that about 12,000 students are enrolled in Catholic schools.
He pointed out that teachers are Moroccan Muslims and that the curricula in these schools fall in line with the country’s educational system set by the Moroccan Ministry of Education.
The Archbishop noted that these schools are expanding due to increasing demands.
Among the highlights of the Pope’s visit, which will start on March 30, is his reception by King Mohammed VI at the airport and private talks at the Royal Palace in Rabat.
The King will again receive the Pope in the capital’s Hassan II Mosque in the presence of members of the diplomatic corps and Moroccan and foreign dignitaries.
They will both deliver speeches before heading to the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V.
Then, they will visit the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates (male and female preachers).
On the second day of his visit, the Pope will celebrate mass for about 10,000 people from different Moroccan cities at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
He will also visit the Rural Center for Social Services at Temara, south of the capital, and hold meetings with priests, religious men and women and the ecumenical Council of Churches in the Rabat cathedral.
Later, he will recite the Angelus prayer before his departure to Rome.
