Pope Francis receives Czech bishops

Pope Francis on Friday received a delegation of fifteen Czech bishops led by Cardinal Dominik Duka. It was their first opportunity to meet with the Pontiff in person. The Holy Father spoke to them about the role of the Catholic Church and urged them to use the material assets they would acquire in the church restitution process prudently, transparently a so as to further the Catholic Church’s spiritual mission. Later on Friday the bishops will also celebrate mass for Czech pilgrims at St. Clement’s Basilica to commemorate the 1145th anniversary of the death of St. Cyril, whose relics are preserved in the church.