Unprecedented trip is a sign of solidarity among faith leaders committed to serving the city, addressing core issues together
PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29 AT 12 NOON
As a sign of their commitment to working together for the good of the City of Baltimore and its citizens, several leaders of faith communities from Baltimore will make an unprecedented trip together to Rome and the Vatican to strengthen their bonds of faith and to obtain the blessing of Pope Francis on their commitment to work together to address key areas of importance in the city.
Archbishop William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, will be joined on the February 29-March 3 trip by Imam Earl El-Amin, Muslim Community Cultural Center of Baltimore; Rabbi Steven Fink, Temple Oheb Shalom; Rev. Dr. Al Hathaway, Union Baptist Church; Rev. Wolfgang D. Herz-Lane, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Bishop Denis Madden, Archdiocese of Baltimore; Mr. William McCarthy, Catholic Charities; Rev. Dr. Frank Reid, Bethel AME; and Rev. Donald Sterling, New All Saints Catholic Church.
The group, which has been in dialogue over the past year over issues that arose in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray, will meet His Holiness, Pope Francis, on Wednesday March 2, following the Pope’s weekly General Audience. Archbishop Lori will introduce the Pope to those traveling from Baltimore and brief him on the group’s collaborative work. The Holy Father is then expected to offer his Apostolic blessing on the group and their interfaith and ecumenical efforts to better serve Baltimore and its residents. While in Rome, the group will also meet with Vatican officials and pray together at St. Peter’s Basilica and other important spiritual sites. The group will stay inside the Vatican at the Casa Santa Marta, where Pope Francis resides.
A press conference will take place at Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport, Upper Level, International Terminal, inside Door 20, on Monday, February 29th.
The group will return on Thursday, March 3rd.
Paid parking is available in Hourly Garage. Members of the media may also access terminal lot behind Hourly Garage. For information, contact BWI Marshall Media Relations at 410-859-7027.