The last time it occurred was in 1989. During fall this year it will happen again. On October 31 Pope Franciskus will come to Sweden, and the City of Lund, on a historical visit.
This according to a press release made by the Church of Sweden on Monday. The visit is described as historical – it is the first papal visit in Sweden since Pope Johannes Paulus II visited in 1989.
“I’m very happy that the Pope is coming to Lund, and that the Roman Catholic Church, together with the Lutheran World Federation, has made an invitation to this exceptional meeting”, says Antje Jackelén, Archbishop of the Church of Sweden, in a press release.
Pope Franciskus will visit since both Catholics and Lutherans together are celebrating the 500-year anniversary of the Reformation. But he will not arrive alone.
Other attendees are Martin Junge, Secretary General of the Lutheran World Federation, LWF, and Bishop Munib Younan, Chairman of LWF. The event will feature a symposium and a liturgical worship – compiled exclusively for this occasion.
“It’s an advancement in the churches’ work. In a period of big, global challenges we have a common mission to proclaim gospel in word and action”, Antje Jackelén continues.
Lund has been chosen as the site of the meeting for several reasons. One of them is that the Lutheran World Federation was founded in Lund in 1947. Lund has, in many ways, been shaped by the Reformation, since it is located in “the Lutheran Scandinavia”, the Church of Sweden writes.
The date of the meeting is October 31 – on the day of the Reformation. The Church of Sweden acts as host for the event.
Translation: Elise Petersson
