Vatican, Jul. 4, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican has released the full schedule for the trip by Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) to France in September, to join in the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Virgin Mary's appearances at Lourdes.
The Holy Father will leave Rome's Fiumicino airport on Friday morning, September 12, at 9, arriving at Orly airport in Paris at about 11. After a short arrival ceremony he will travel to Elysee Palace, where he will be welcomed formally by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Friday afternoon the Pope will hold meetings first with Jewish community representatives, then with cultural leaders, before presiding at a Vespers service in Notre Dame cathedral.
On Saturday morning, September 13, the Pope will visit the Institut de France, then celebrate Mass on the Esplanade des Invalides. That afternoon he will leave Paris by plane, arriving at Lourdes in the early evening. There he will visit the church of the Sacred Heart and the home of St. Bernadette Soubirois, then proceed to the Lourdes grotto, where he will speak at the conclusion of a candelight procession to the shrine.
On Sunday, September 14, Pope Benedict will celebrate Mass outside the Lourdes shrine, then lead the Angelus. That afternoon he will meet with the bishops of France, and later address participants in a Eucharistic procession at the shrine.
On Monday morning, September 15, the Pope will visit the hospital at the Lourdes shrine, then celebrate Mass for the sick at the basilica. He will leave just after noon, from the Tarbes-Lourdes airport, arriving back in Rome's Ciampino airport late Monday afternoon.
The Holy Father will leave Rome's Fiumicino airport on Friday morning, September 12, at 9, arriving at Orly airport in Paris at about 11. After a short arrival ceremony he will travel to Elysee Palace, where he will be welcomed formally by President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Friday afternoon the Pope will hold meetings first with Jewish community representatives, then with cultural leaders, before presiding at a Vespers service in Notre Dame cathedral.
On Saturday morning, September 13, the Pope will visit the Institut de France, then celebrate Mass on the Esplanade des Invalides. That afternoon he will leave Paris by plane, arriving at Lourdes in the early evening. There he will visit the church of the Sacred Heart and the home of St. Bernadette Soubirois, then proceed to the Lourdes grotto, where he will speak at the conclusion of a candelight procession to the shrine.
On Sunday, September 14, Pope Benedict will celebrate Mass outside the Lourdes shrine, then lead the Angelus. That afternoon he will meet with the bishops of France, and later address participants in a Eucharistic procession at the shrine.
On Monday morning, September 15, the Pope will visit the hospital at the Lourdes shrine, then celebrate Mass for the sick at the basilica. He will leave just after noon, from the Tarbes-Lourdes airport, arriving back in Rome's Ciampino airport late Monday afternoon.