Schedule announced for Pope’s visit to Portugal

Vatican City, Dec 10, 2009 / 16:58 pm

This week, Auxiliary Bishop Carlos Azevedo of Lisbon announced the official schedule for Pope Benedict's trip to Portugal May 11-14, 2010. The “official and pastoral visit” by the Pope to the cities of Lisbon, Fatima and Porto will be organized in conjunction with the Portuguese government, the bishop said.

The bishop expressed his own joy and “the great hope with which the Church in Portugal awaits this event.” The visit will “coincide with the 10^th anniversary of the beatification of the shepherd children Francisco and Jacinta, and the fifth anniversary of the death of Sister Lucia, all who were Fatima visionaries.

The Pope’s schedule will be as follows:

 

May 11

11:00 a.m. Arrival at Lisbon airport

12:45 p.m. Welcoming ceremony at the Monasterio dos Jerónimos

1:30 p.m. Visit with the President of Portugal, Anibal Cavaco Silva, at the presidential palace of Belen

6:45 p.m. Mass at the Plaza do Comercio.

May 12

10:00 a.m. Meeting with representatives from the world of culture, science and art at the Cultural Center of Belen

12:00 p.m. Meeting with the Prime Minister of Portugal, José Sócrates, at the Apostolic Nunciature

4:40 p.m. Departure by helicopter to Fatima

6:00 p.m. Meeting and recitation of the Rosary at Fatima with religious, priests, deacons and seminarians at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity

9:30 p.m. Candlelight Procession, led by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

May 13:

10:00 a.m. Mass for the anniversary of the international pilgrimage and private visit to the tombs of the three Fatima seers

5:00 p.m. Meeting with all Catholic and non-Catholic organizations involved in social ministry

6:45 p.m. Meeting with the bishops of Portugal

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May 14:

9:00 a.m. Arrival in Porto

10:15 a.m. Mass at the Avenida dos Aliados.

1:30 p.m. Departure ceremony at the Francisco Sá Carneiro airport