Vatican City, May 8, 2008 / 12:08 pm
In a little more than a week Pope Benedict will visit the Italian diocese of Genoa and the city of Savona for two days. The Vatican announced the Pope’s schedule this morning as the Archbishop of Genoa says that his flock is joyfully awaiting his arrival.
The Pope will arrive at Genoa’s airport on the afternoon of Saturday, May 17 at 4:30, and then board a helicopter to travel to the shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Savona.
After visiting the shrine, Benedict XVI will be taken by car to the Piazza del Popolo in Savona where, at 5:45 p.m., he will concelebrate Holy Mass and give the homily.
The Holy Father will take a helicopter back to Genoa in the evening and land at the shrine of the Virgin of the Watch in Ceranesi, where he will spend the night.
At nine o’clock on Sunday morning, the Pope will make a private visit to the shrine and will then be taken by helicopter to Genoa where he will arrive at the Villa Gentile Sports Center around 9:40 a.m. From there will be taken by car to the Gaslini Children's Hospital where he will meet the medical staff and the children who are patients and their families. He will then be taken by car to Piazza Matteotti where, at 11:15 a.m., he will
meet with the youth of the area, addressing them and praying the Angelus with them.