杏MAP导航

By Lydia O鈥橩ane 鈥� Bratislava

鈥淚 hope it will be a great and wonderful surprise what the 杏MAP导航 will say to us,鈥� says Fr Radoslav 艩a拧kovic, as he sits in the majestic surroundings of St Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava.

It is the eve of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 meeting with priests and religious in this place of worship, and the cathedral鈥檚 vicar adds, 鈥淚 like to be surprised by him; this great 杏MAP导航, this great Bishop of Rome, so I don鈥檛 think I have any special expectation about what he is going to say.鈥�

Preparations are continuing unabated all around Fr 艩a拧kovic, as he describes this cathedral as a place steeped in charity.

鈥淚 think this cathedral is one of the best places for the 杏MAP导航 to visit鈥� We are here in St Martin鈥檚 Cathedral and you know St Martin is one of the patrons鈥� of charity, of Christian love, service to poor people,鈥� he says.

With the establishment of the Archdiocese of Bratislava in 2008, Metropolitan Archbishop Stanislav Zvolensky established the tradition of an annual collection on St. Martin鈥檚 Day just after the Archdiocese was founded, so that all might imitate this great saint with good works.

The proceeds of the first 鈥淪t. Martin鈥檚 collection鈥� were donated to the Cenacolo Center, which offers help to those affected by drug addiction. The cathedral is also involved in care of the needy, and care of victims of human trafficking.

As the faithful await 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� visit here on Monday, Fr 艩a拧kovic is hoping that his example of care and support for the poor and vulnerable will be a source of encouragement to people in Slovakia to lend a hand to those who need help and support.