Vatican City, Sep 25, 2005 / 22:00 pm
On Saturday, the Vatican released a summary of the busy winter schedule awaiting Pope Benedict. Several groundbreaking events, including the 11th General Synod of Bishops, marking the close of the Year of the Eucharist, and a number of beatifications which the Holy Father will preside over, are scheduled for the coming months.
The calendar was produced by the Holy See's Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, and commences with the opening of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will be held on the morning of October 2nd in the Vatican Basilica.
On Saturday, the 15th, the Pope will meet and pray in St. Peter's Square with children who are receiving their First Communion.
He will preside over the closing of the Bishop's Synod and officially close the Year of the Eucharist, originally instituted by John Paul II, on Sunday October 23rd at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square. World Mission Day will also be held that day as well as the canonization of Blesseds Jozef Bilczewski, Gaetano Catanoso, Zygmunt Gorazdowski, Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga, and Felice da Nicosia.