This year's Pentecost Mass will be held in the Csíksomlyó mountain saddle, the Csíkszered mayor's office announced on Friday on its social media page.
The announcement was made by Attila Korodi, the mayor of Csíkszereda, at the meeting of the city's municipal board on Friday. The mayor's office added: the details will be reported after further discussions with the representatives of the Transylvanian Franciscan Order and the authorities.
In Csíksereda, the lightest Romanian epidemiological rules are currently in force. The coronavirus infection rate in the city was 1.16 per thousand on Friday. The rate represents the number of new infections per thousand inhabitants registered in the previous two weeks in Romania. The rate of new infections is similarly low (1.22 per thousand) in Hargita County.
Speaking to MTI by phone, Attila Korodi said: based on the current infection data and valid legislation, the people of Csikszereda can go to the mountain saddle to say goodbye. They want to consult with the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the state authorities about whether they can receive pilgrims from other settlements. The mayor considered it a certainty that this year too - with the exception of official delegations - it will not be possible for Hungarians to make a pilgrimage to Csíksomlyo.
He added that different scenarios are being developed, and together with the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the state authorities, the one that enables the pilgrimage, but at the same time carries the least epidemiological risk, will be selected.
Erik Urbán, the superior of the Transylvanian Franciscan order, which traditionally organizes the farewell, told MTI that they are waiting for consultations with the authorities.
Last year, the traditional pilgrimage to Csíksomlyo on Pentecost was canceled due to the epidemic restrictions. The faithful could follow the mass broadcast from the Csíksomlyó church on several Internet channels, on Duna Television and Transylvanian Mária Radio. About 250 people gathered in the square in front of the church.
MTI
Featured image: MTI/MTVA/Balázs Mohai
