Is Pope Francisc coming to Romania?

Pope Francisc was invited to participate at the inauguration of Maria Radna Monastery in Lipova on August 2. The monastery was rehabilitated following a EUR 10 million investment. According to representatives of the monastery quoted by Mediafax, the Pope has not confirmed yet that will come to Romania. However, the Vatican will be represented at the event, said the parish priest of Maria Radna Monastery, Andreas Reinholz.

He also said that several local and foreign officials confirmed their presence at the event, including President Klaus Iohannis.

Maria Radna Monastery, considered to be the largest pilgrimage place in Western Romania, benefits from a rehabilitation program worth RON 47.14 million (over EUR 10 million), out of which RON 30 million come from the European Union. The rest of the money was allocated by the Government and by the beneficiary, namely by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Timisoara.

The monastery’s representatives said that the entire complex will join a permanent tourist circuit in 2015, estimating that it will double the number of visitors which currently rises to 80,000 per year.

The church was sanctified in 1767 and was declared Mother of Graces Papal Basilica in 1992.