Vatican City, Mar 17, 2008 / 08:32 am
With less than a month to go before Pope Benedict makes his first trip to the U.S., the Vatican’s Press Office has published the itinerary for his visit.
The Holy Father’s trip will take place April 15-21.
The Pope will depart from Rome's Fiumicino airport at midday on Tuesday, April 15 and land at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington at 4 p.m. local time, where he will be greeted by U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife.
The welcome ceremony will be held at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday April 16, after which the Pope will make a courtesy visit to the U.S. president at the White House. That afternoon he will preside at the celebration of Vespers and hold a meeting with U.S. bishops at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.