I have abridged the KATHNET report to make the story more compact, without omitting anything of substabce...
Change in Pope's schedule
will allow him to spend
more time with Lutherans
during visit to Erfurt
Adapted and translated from
VATICAN CITY, March 31 (kath.net) - Mons. Robert Zollitsch, Archbishop of Freiburg and president of the German bishops' conference (DBK) is in Rome for a few days' visit following the latest plenary assembly of the DBK in Paderborn.
He was scheduled to meet with Pope Benedict XVI this morning to report on the meeting as well as to discuss the Pope's program for his visit to German on Sept. 22-25. He will be meeting with other Vatican officials, including Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of teh Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
According to a revised program to be announced later, the Holy Father will now stay overnight on Sept. 23 at the Erfurt Seminary instead of returning to Berlin after his full day schedule in Erfurt on the second day of his visit.
This change was finalized after the visit to Erfurt last week of Alberto Gasparri, the papal trip coordinator.
It reflects the Pope's desire to spend more time with representatives of teh Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany, who had written him to complain that the one hour scheduled for the Pope's ecumenical encounter in the first program draft was inadequate.
German education minister
met with Pope yesterday
Meanwhile, German Education Minister Annette Schavan said that "the Pope is very happy about coming to Berlin and to Germany".
Schavan and her delegation were invited to a private audience with the Pope at the Aula Polo VI after the General Audience yesterday.
It was the Benedict's first meeting with a federal German minister other than Chancellor Merkel since he became Pope, although he has met with several regional presidents and ministers from his native country.
Schavan said they discussed the current situation in Germany, especially in Berlin. She told him that "Berlin is not a Godless city - there are many who are on the way, in search of God".
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 31/03/2011 20:49]