Rome, Italy, Jun 14, 2007 / 09:00 am
Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Austria September 7-9 may be his only trip to a European country in 2007, according to the spokesman for the Archdiocese of Vienna.
Father Karl Schauer, the spokesman for the Marian Shrine of Mariazell, told reporters this week, “The Pontiff feels particularly attracted by the Marian shrine of Mariazell, which will celebrate its 850th anniversary in 2007 and would be one of three phases in this papal trip on the feast of the Nativity of Mary on September 8.”
Benedict XVI will also visit the Cistercian monastery of Heiligenkreuz, as well as a Theology school that has recently been given pontifical status.
Speaking to the Kath.net news agency, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said, “Each visit of the Pope is important for the Church in that country. I saw it recently in Brazil as well. The local Church feels very encouraged, confirmed in the faith , in the meaning of participation the life of the Church in the world.” “Therefore, this case is also a particularly favorable situation, because here the Pope’s native tongue is spoken and as we saw in Germany, the possibility exists therefore that the Holy Father will say more things than what he has prepared,” Father Lombardi said.