Czech morning news roundup: Feel-good Friday edition for November 12

Bishops from Bohemia and Moravia met Pope Francis in the Vatican Thursday to discuss the upcoming nominations of new Czech bishops, including the change in the post of the Archbishop of Prague. During the week-long visit, the bishops will visit the graves of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, say a mass in four papal basilicas, and meet with Vatican authorities.

The Czech bishops presented Pope Francis with a crystal reliquary containing the remains of St. Zdislava. Drawings made by pediatric oncology patients were also presented to the Pope who recorded a message for the children. The Czech bishops invited the Pope to Prague, who said he would accept the invitation when the time comes.

Prague Airport has won its eighth gold medal for locally-produced flower honey. As part of the 2021 "Český Med" (Czech Honey) competition, airport beekeepers also received a certificate of compliance with the strict conditions of the Český Med standard. Beekeeping has been taking place at Prague Airport since November 2011 for the purpose of biomonitoring. The practice allows for the evaluation of the effects of air transport on the quality of the environment. Pollen and honey analyzes are commissioned by laboratories of the University of Chemical Technology.

In May of this year, the Ministry of Finance proposed that tampons and other menstrual products be included among the necessary items to be stored in state reserves in the event of a natural disaster. The supplier for the stockpile of sanitary goods has been chosen and, in addition to the state reserves, the government will distribute menstrual pads to socially disadvantaged women via food banks.

Czech food banks should receive 2 million sanitary pads at the end of November, and another 4 million should arrive by the end of the year. Menstrual poverty affects nearly 70,000 women in the Czech Republic reports iDnes.cz.

The Greek capital is the latest city to honor the memory of Czech leader Václav Havel by installing a bench in his honor. The public work of art, inspired by the last President of Czechoslovakia (1989-1992) and first President of the Czech Republic, made its Athens debut earlier this week.

The initiative, with benches created by artist Bořek Šípek, began in 2013. Benches have been installed in 40 cities around the world, including Washington, Dublin, Barcelona, ​​Prague, Lisbon, Milan, Venice, and, most recently, in Lima and Brussels. In Athens, the table and two chairs were placed in a symbolic part of the city, the Freedom Park. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Havel's death.

The program has been announced for the 77th annual Prague Spring International Music Festival. From 12 May 12 until June 3, there will be nearly forty concerts. World-renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim will open the festival with a performance of Smetana’s Má vlast, Andris Nelsons will lead the Vienna Philharmonic in the final concert including Dvořák’s Sixth Symphony. A project of international scope called Prague Offspring will be devoted to new works by contemporary composers. Ticket sales began on Thursday.