English

Council of Republic chairman heads for Vatican to attend pope's installation

Anatol Rubinaw, chairman of the Council of the Republic (upper parliamentary chamber), headed on Monday for the Vatican to witness the installation of the newly elected Pope Francis, according to the press office of the Belarusian foreign ministry.

The Belarusian government will also be represented at the March 19 ceremony by Syarhey Aleynik, the ambassador to the Holy See, and Yawhen Shastakow, the ambassador to Italy.

They are expected to take part in the installation Mass for Pope Francis.

In addition, Messrs. Rubinaw and Aleynik are scheduled to have a meeting with the new pontiff, said the press office.

Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, archbishop of the Minsk-Mahilyow Archdiocese, is also expected to attend the investiture.

Argentinean Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, taking the name of Francis. His election followed the resignation of 85-year-old Pope Benedict XVI on health grounds. He became the first pontiff from outside Europe since Gregory III in the eighth century. //BelaPAN