OFFICIAL WELCOME:
Jeronimos Monastery
COURTESY CALL ON THE PRESIDENT
Palacio do Belem
The Vatican webpages on the Portugal trip carry the text (in all the official languages) of brief remarks given by the Holy Father to the staff at the Presidential Palace (I think this is the first time this has happened during Benedict XVI's trips). It's a beautiful gesture for the staff, though I have not seen any pictures so far. Here is the text:
Dear Friends,
In the course of my visit to the President, I could not omit to visit and greet you who work here in the service of the high responsibilities of the Presidency of the Republic, taking care of this fine Palace and of the people who live here or are received here.
For my part, I express to you my sincere gratitude, wishing you every success in your respective duties. I assure you of a special remembrance in my prayers for each one of you and for your families.
May the good Lord in heaven bless you and strengthen you with his grace and his light, so that, through the consideration that you show to one another in your workplace and through your solicitude for the common good which you serve, you may foster in this centenary of the Portuguese Republic a more just society and a better future for all.
May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, come down upon all of you.
From the Palace, the Pope proceeded back to the Apostolic Nunciature for lunch and a brief rest before the late afternoon Mass in Lisbon's Terreiro do Paco.
From the VIS account of the day up to the visit to the Presisdential Palace:
May 11, 2010
... Having completed his address [at the airport], Benedict XVI went to the apostolic nunciature. At 12.30 p.m. he travelled nine kilometres by car to the Mosterio dos Jeronimos. The monastery was built between 1502 and 1580 over the hermitage of Santa Maria de Belem, donated by King Manuel I to the order of Hieronymites.
The building, which is currently used to welcome visiting heads of State, also has strong ties to the great Portuguese explorers and missionaries, whose exploits are recorded in the nearby Torre de Belem.
Since 1983 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in
December, 2007, it hosted the European Union leaders who signed the Treaty of Lisbon that brought significant reforms to the EU>
Benedict XVI was received by President Cavaco Silva and his wife for the official welcome ceremony that included a military review.
Following the welcome ceremony, The Holy Father made a brief visit to the ancient church of Santa Maria de Belem where he prayed before the Blessed Sacrament then visited the cloister of the monastery.
At 1.15 p.m. the Holy Father took the popemobile to travel the 400 metres separating the monastery from the Palacio de Belem for the ofgficial courtesy call on the President of the REpuublic.
The Palace was also built in the sixteenth century and was the residence of Portuguese monarchs until the declaration of the republic in 1911, when it became the official residence of the President.
The Holy Father and President Cavaco Silva had a private meeting, after which the Pope signed the visitors' book and greeted members of the president's family. He also addressed some words to the staff who work in the palace. He then returned to the apostolic nunciature where he had lunch.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 15/05/2010 03:09]