Pope Francis to celebrate Mass in Sweden during Reformation commemorations

Pope Francis will extend his trip to Sweden for Reformation commemorations by one day to accommodate a papal Mass for the nations' Catholics.

Initially, Pope Francis had planned to make a day trip to Sweden on October 31 to take part in two ecumenical events launching a year of commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

But at the urging of local Catholics, the Pope decided to spend the night and celebrate Mass November 1 before returning to Rome.

The Reverend Martin Junge, general secretary of the LWF, told reporters at the Vatican yesterday that the Lutherans fully understand the desire of Catholics in Sweden to have Mass with the Pope and the pastoral responsibility of the Pope to fulfil that request.