00 16/06/2010 23:02



The Vatican and the Diocese of Sulmona-Valva today released the final program for the Pope's coming visit.



PASTORAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

TO SULMONA, Sunday, July 4, 2010




P R O G R A M

08:30 The Holy Father leaves the Vatican heliport.
Before landing in Sulmona, the chopper will fly over
the Abbey of Santo Spirito and the Hermitage of S. Onofrio sul Morrone.

09:20 Landing at the Serafini sports field in Incoronata outside Sulmona.
The Holy Father will be welcomed by
- Mons. Angelo Spina, Bishop of Sulmona-Valva
- Gianni Letta, Undersecretary to the Prime Minister's Cabinet
- Antonio Zanardi Landi, Ambassador of Italy to the Holy See
- Mons. Giuseppe Bertello, Apostolic Nuncio in Italy
- Gianni Chiodi, President of the Abruzzo region
- Giovanna Maria Rita Iurato, Prefect of L'Aquila
- Fabio Federico, Mayor of Sulmona
- Antonio Del Corvo, President of L’Aquila province

Travel by Popemobile to Piazza Garibaldi,
passing through Viale Mazzini and Corso Ovidio.

After passing through the various crowd sectors, the Holy Father will
receive a formal welcome from
the Mayor and the Bishop of Sulmona.

10.00 EUCHARISTIC CONCELEBRATION at Piazza Garibaldi
- Homily by the Holy Father
- Angelus

12.30 After the Mass, the Holy Father will take the Popemobile to the
Centro Pastorale Diocesano.
He will inaugurate the Casa Sacerdotale (House for Priests), where the Holy Father will rest
after lunch. This was recently restored and will be named for Benedict XVI. It is meant
as a home for sick and aged priests.

13.15
Lunch with the bishops of the region, Casa Sacerdotale

16:30 Still at Casa Sacerdotale, the Pope will meet a delegation from the Casa Circondiale
(municipal jail), including the director, the chaplain, the custodial agents, and some inmates.

16:45 The Pope will proceed to the Cathedral in the Popemobile, passing through Via Roosevelt,
Piazza Tresca and Via Matteotti.

17:00 MEETING WITH DIOCESAN YOUTH, Cathedral of San Panfilo.
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Introduction from Bishop Spina
- Greeting from youth representatives Francesca Orsatti and Cristian DiSanza
- Address by the Holy Father

The Holy Father will descend to the Cathedral Crypt to venerate the relics of San Panfilo and
Pope St. Celestine V.

17:30 The Holy Father leaves the Cathedral and proceeds to the nearby Communal Stadium.
Before boarding the helicopter, he will say farewell to the same officials who welcomed
him in the morning.

17:45 Departs Sulmona for Rome.

18:35 Arrival at the Vatican.



The Diocese of Sulmona has has one of the most informative and resourceful sites preparatory to a papal visit, which comes as the Diocese celebrates the eighth centenary of the death of Pope st. Celestine V. The activities and initiatives in connection with that anniversary are equally remarkable and deserve a separate post.



The diocese has now come out with a 90-page handout booklet containing in Part I some basic Catechesis on the Catholic Church and in Part II, passages from the Magisterium of Benedict XVI. It is also well illustrated with photos of Benedict XVI (though most are in B&W).

The diagrams for the Mass in Piazza Garibaldi on July 4 are equally well illustrated:


Green areas are for seated Massgoers; the blue areas are for standees. Places for the choir, the sick, special guests,
press, etc next to the Papal tribunal/altar are also clearly designated.





[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 17/06/2010 02:03]