Pope Visits the Kingdom of Morocco

His Holiness Pope Francis had a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco this weekend, March 30-31, at the invitation of His Majesty Mohammed VI King of Morocco.

Taking into consideration the religious status and spiritual responsibility assumed by the King of Morocco as the Commander of the Faithful and His Holiness the Pope, their historic meeting contributes to promoting the values of fraternity, peace and tolerance among peoples and nations and to consolidating interreligious dialogue, understanding and coexistence. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Morocco guarantees to everyone the freedom to practice one’s faith.

Pope Francis is the second Pope to visit Morocco. At the invitation of the late King of Morocco, Hassan II, Pope John Paul II paid an official visit to Morocco in 1985. This visit was the first undertaken by St. John Paul II to a majority Muslim country. He was given a warm welcome on the streets of Casablanca and spoke at the stadium there, a landmark speech that emphasized the highest ideals of Islam and Christianity in the presence of 80,000 young Moroccans.

The visit of Pope Francis as a "pilgrim of peace and fraternity" to Morocco, a land of coexistence, tolerance and moderation, will contribute to promoting interreligious dialogue and to fostering peace and fraternity between Christians and Muslims.

In a video message on the eve of his visit, Pope Francis thanked God for granting him the opportunity to visit Morocco. “I come as a pilgrim of peace and fraternity, in a world that greatly needs it,” the Pope said.

He concluded his message with these words: “Dear Moroccan friends, I express my heartfelt thanks for your welcome, and above all for your prayers. And I assure you of my own prayers for you and for your dear country.”

During his visit, the Pope met with the Moroccan authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps, followed by a visit to the Mausoleum of Mohammed V and a meeting with His Majesty King Mohammed VI at the Royal Palace in Rabat.

His Holiness the Pope also visited the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates, had a meeting with priests, religious, consecrated persons and the Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Cathedral of Rabat, as well as with migrants on the premises of the diocesan Caritas of Rabat.