SW News: Pope Francis visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Wednesday morning, ahead of his 41st Apostolic Journey outside of Italy. The Holy Father offered prayers before the centuries-old icon of Mary known as Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the Roman People) ahead of his trip to Hungary.

Seated in a wheelchair, Pope Francis prayed for a short while in silence in front of the sacred icon, which is believed to have been painted by St Luke himself. The Holy Father sought Her intercession for protection for the impending Journey and then he went back to the Vatican.

From April 28 to 30, the Pope will visit Budapest, the capital of Hungary. This trip will put him at the very heart of Europe upon which the icy winds of war continue to blow. During the Regina Coeli, the Holy Father highlighted the critical humanitarian issues that have emerged in the region. The Pope made a brief trip to Budapest in mid-September 2021 to attend the International Eucharistic Congress.

On Friday, the Holy Father’s busy schedule includes a meeting with the Prime Minister and the President at Sandor Palace. This would be followed by a meeting with the Civil Society, and the Diplomatic Corps in the former Carmelite Monastery. Later in the evening, he would meet with Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Consecrated Persons, Seminarians, and pastoral workers in St. Stephen's Co-Cathedral.

On Saturday, April 29, Pope Francis will make a private visit to the children of the “Blessed László Batthyány-Strattmann” Institute. Then he would meet with poor people and refugees in St Elizabeth of Hungary Church. He will also pay a visit to the Greek Catholic Community and meet with young people at “Papp László Budapest Sportaréna”. Later, there will be a private meeting with Members of the Society of Jesus in the Apostolic Nunciature.

On Sunday, April 30, the Pontiff will celebrate Holy Mass in Kossuth Lajos' Square. Then he will meet with the Academic and Cultural World at the Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics of the Catholic “Péter Pázmány” University. There will be a Farewell Ceremony at Budapest International Airport. In the evening, he will depart from Budapest International Airport to Rome.