Pope Francis expresses gratitude at end of Geneva visit

By Robin Gomes

Pope Francis concluded his "ecumenical pilgrimage" to the World Council of Churches in Geneva on Thursday evening with a vote of thanks to all who contributed to making it possible.

At the end of the Holy Mass for Swiss Catholics at Geneva’s Palaexpo convention centre, he first thanked Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne, Genève and Fribourg, who is president of the the Swiss Bishops’ Conference. 

The Holy Father thanked him and his diocesan community of Lausanne-Geneva-Fribourg for their welcome, preparations, and especially prayers, which he urged to continue.  He said he would also pray for them so that the Lord may accompany them at “every step, particularly on the journey of ecumenism.”

The Pope also expressed his gratitude to the Swiss and other bishops present there, as well as the faithful coming from “various parts of Switzerland and France, and from other countries.”

He had words of gratitude for the people of Geneva, where, he said, Pope Martin V stayed exactly 600 years ago. 

Today Geneva, he noted, serves as headquarters for important international institutions, including the International Labour Organization” (ILO) which is celebrating its 100 years.

Finally, Pope Francis thanked the Government of the Swiss Federation for its “kind invitation and unfailing help and cooperation.”