Apostolic Journey to France, 150th Anniversary of the Apparitions at Lourdes

APOSTOLIC JOURNEY
OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
TO FRANCE ON THE OCCASION
OF THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPARITIONS
OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AT LOURDES
(SEPTEMBER 12 - 15, 2008)

PROGRAM

ITALY

Friday, 12 September 2008

Fiumicino (Rome)

9.00 Departure by plane from the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport for the Airport of Orly (Paris) Interview of the Holy Father during the flight to France

FRANCE
Paris

11.10 Arrival at the Airport of Orly.

11.15 Official welcome at the Airport of Orly

12.25 Welcoming ceremony at the Elysée Palace

12.30 Courtesy visit to the President of the Republic at the Elysée Palace

13.00 Meeting with authorities of State at the Elysée Palace Address of the Holy Father

17.00 Short meeting with representatives of the Jewish Community at the Apostolic Nunciature of Paris Address of the Holy Father

17.30 Meeting with representatives from the world of culture at the Collège des Bernardins Address of the Holy Father

19.15 Celebration of Vespers with priests, religious, seminarians and deacons gathered at Notre-Dame Cathedral Homily of the Holy Father

20.30 Greeting to young people gathered in the esplanade in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral Greeting of the Holy Father

20.45 Greeting from the balcony of the Apostolic Nunciature Greeting of the Holy Father

Saturday, 13 September2008

9.10 Short visit to the Institut de France Greeting of the Holy Father
Signing of the Golden Book

10.00 Eucharistic Celebration on the Esplanade des Invalides Homily of the Holy Father

12.30 Luncheon with the Bishops of Île de France and the Papal Entourage in the Apostolic Nunciature of Paris

15.50 Farewell from the Apostolic Nunciature of Paris

16.30 Departure by plane from the Airport of Orly for the Airport of Tarbes-Lourdes

Lourdes

17.45 Arrival at the Airport of Tarbes-Lourdes Pyrénées

18.00 Departure by helicopter from the Airport of Tarbes-Lourdes Pyrénées for the Antoine Béguère Stadium of Lourdes

18.20 Arrival at the Antoine Béguère Stadium in Lourdes

18.30 Jubilee Way: Visit to the Church of the Sacred Heart and visit to the Cachot at Lourdes

19.15 Visit to the Grotto of the Apparitions at Lourdes.

21.30 Conclusion of the Marian torchlight procession at Rosary Square in the Complex of the Lourdes' Shrines Homily of the Holy Father

Sunday, 14 September 2008

10.00 Holy Mass for the 150th anniversary of the Apparitions in the Prairie Homily of the Holy Father

Recitation of the Angelus Domini in the Prairie Address of the Holy Father

12.45 Luncheon with the Bishops of the Midi-Pyrénées region and with the Cardinals and Bishops of the Papal Entourage at St. Joseph's Hermitage

17.15 Meeting with French Bishops in the Hemicycle of Saint Bernadette's Church Address of the Holy Father

18.30 Conclusion of the Blessed Sacrament Procession in the Prairie of Lourdes. Meditation by the Holy Father

Monday, 15 September 2008

Farewell from Saint Joseph's Hermitage

8.45 Visit to the Oratorie de l’hôpital

9.30 Holy Mass for the sick in the Esplanade in front of the Basilica of Notre-Dame du Rosaire Homily of the Holy Father

12.10 Departure by helicopter from the Antoine Béguère Stadium of Lourdes for the Airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées

12.30 Arrival at the Airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées

Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées. Address of the Holy Father

13.00 Departure by plane from the Airport of Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées for the Airport of Ciampino (Rome)

ITALY

Rome/Ciampino

15.15 Arrival at the Airport of Rome/Ciampino

Time Lag

Rome: + 2 UTC

Paris and Lourdes: + 2 UTC