Vatican City, Oct 29, 2010 / 09:57 am
Fr. Federico Lombardi met with the press on Oct. 29 to present the schedule for the Pope's Nov. 6-7 visit to Spain. The trip is divided between two major Spanish destinations, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in the Northwest region of Galicia and the Holy Family Church in Barcelona, the capital of the Northeastern Catalonia region.
They are different places, said Fr. Lombardi, "but both seem to have a very universal, very broad significance." Having never visited either place, Fr. Lombardi said that the Pope is "very happy" to be able to go now.
The Pope will first go to the popular and historic pilgrim destination of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where St. James' tomb is located.
The occasion for his visit is this year's jubilee celebration. The jubilee is referred to as the Jacobean, or Compostelan,Year and occurs every year the July 25 Feast of St. James is celebrated on a Sunday. It is a special year for pilgrims as it is the only time when one can enter the Church by way of the "puerta santa," or holy door.