Pope planning to visit Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN. April 11 (Interfax) - Pope Francis in a conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has confirmed his intention to pay an official visit to Nur-Sultan and take part in the Congress of Leaders of World Religions, the Kazakh presidential press service said.

"The Pope expressed his gratitude to the president for the opportunity to meet, and confirmed his official visit to Kazakhstan, and that he will attend the 7th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions as well. He said he had high expectations for his upcoming visit and participation in the forum," Tokayev said in a statement released following talks via videoconference with Pope Francis.

"I am looking forward to this remarkable event in terms of promoting interreligious dialogue, unity and the rapprochement of states, which is extremely important these days," the head of the Catholic Christian Church is quoted as saying by the Kazakh presidential press service.

The pontiff emphasized the exceptional importance of achieving unity and accord in the world amid the current complicated geopolitical situation.