Papal accommodations being built for ‘06 World Meeting of Families in Valencia

Jul 18, 2005 / 22:00 pm

A team of architects and workers have begun remodeling the Archbishop of Valencia’s residence in order to build a “papal apartment” where Pope Benedict XVI and his collaborators will stay during the World Meeting of Families to take place in Valencia, Spain, in July of 2006.

The diocesan newspaper Paraula, reports the 2,000 square-foot area on the first floor of the residence is next to the chapel and leads into an interior patio and garden,

According to the Avan news agency, the remodeling will result in the construction of three 129 square-foot dormitories each with private bath. Two of the rooms will have adjacent 215 square-foot offices.

The project is expected to take several months to be completed.

In addition, parts of the sacristy and other areas up to now used as closet space will also be remodeled.

In the vestibule of the residence a large poster of the World Meeting of Families with a picture of Pope and the words, “Benedict XVI: We await you!” is on display.