Vatican City, Jun 5, 2008 / 08:24 am
The Vatican’s Press Office announced today that Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone will visit Belarus from June 18 – 22.
Cardinal Bertone, who will be visiting the former Soviet republic in his capacity as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, will meet with members of the government, presiding at liturgical celebrations and other moments of prayer in the archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev and in the dioceses of Pinsk and Grodno. The cardinal will also meet with members of the Belarusian Catholic Episcopal Conference.
Christianity’s presence in Belarus stretches back to the late 10th century when Princess Olga was baptized, and then requested a bishop and priests for her people from the king of Germany.
Since 2000 the Archdiocese of Minsk-Mohilev reports that the number of parishes and believers in Belarus is growing. Catholics have also been able to restore a number of churches as well as build new parishes.