Archbishop Agustin Garcia-Gasco of Valencia signed a decree this week, suspending Masses in all the parishes and churches of the diocese on the morning of Sunday, July 9, in order to allow the greatest number of priests and faithful to attend the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families, which will be celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI.

The decree, signed by Archbishop Garcia-Gasco, directs pastors to establish special schedules for Mass in the afternoon of July 9 in order to allow those unable to attend the papal Mass to fulfill their Sunday obligation.

“The presence of the Pope in our archdiocese is a grace-filled event that should strengthen the unbreakable communion of our local Church with the successor of Peter,” the archbishop wrote in his directive.

The Pope will celebrate the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families on the Monteolivete Bridge, near the City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia.