Detailed schedule of papal trip to France

On Sep 12-15, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI will visit France. In Paris, he will meet President Nicolas Sarkozy and other politicians, young people, religious and priests. He will then travel to Lourdes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the apparition of Virgin Mary and preside over the Mass with the sick people.

Vatican: Press Office of the Holy See released today detailed schedule of the Pope's 10th apostolic journey. Holy Father Benedict XVI will visit the capital of France Paris and the place of pilgrimage Lourdes, where Virgin Mary appeared 150 years ago.

Detailed schedule of the Apostolic Journey of Pope Benedict XVI
to France on the opportunity of the 150th anniversary
of the apparition of Virgin Mary in Lourdes

(September 12-15, 2008)

Friday, Sep 12

9.00 am: Departure from the Fiumicino airport in Rome

11.10 am: Arrival at the Orly airport in Paris

12.30 pm: Official welcome by the President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace

1.00 pm: Meeting with representatives of the State at the Elysee Palace; Discourse of the Holy Father

5.00 pm: Meeting with representatives of the Jewish community at the Apostolic Nunciature

5.30 pm: Meeting with representatives of the world of culture at the College des Bernardins; Discourse of the Holy Father

7.15 pm: Common prayer of vespers with priests, man and women religious, seminarists and deacons at the Notre-Dame cathedral; Discourse of the Holy Father

8.30 pm: Meeting with young people in front of the cathedral; Salutation of the Holy Father

Saturday, Sep 13

9.10 am: Visit at the Institut de France

10.00 am: Mass at the Esplanade des Invalides; Homily of the Holy Father

12.30 pm: Lunch with bishops from the Ile de France region at the Apostolic Nunciature

3.50 pm: Departure from the Apostolic Nunciature for the Orly airport

4.30 pm: Departure from the Orly airport

5.45 pm: Arrival at the Tarbes-Lourdes airport

6.00 pm: Departure by the helicopter for the Antoine Beguere Stadium in Lourdes

6.20 pm: Arrival at the stadium

6.30 pm: The Jubilee Path: visit of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and a cell

7.15 pm: Visit of the cave where Virgin Mary appeared

9.30 pm: End of the Marian procession with lights at the Our Lady of the Rosary within the basilica complex

Sunday, Sep 14

10.00 am: Mass to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the apparition of Virgin Mary in Lourdes in front of the basilica; Homily of the Holy Father

After the Mass, the Holy Father Benedict XVI will pray the Angelus with the faithful and have a discourse.

12.45 pm: Lunch with bishops from the Midi-Pyrenees region at the Hermitage St Joseph

5.15 pm: Meeting with French bishops; Discourse of the Holy Father

6.30 pm: End of the Eucharistic procession in front of the basilica; Discourse of the Holy Father

Monday, Sep 15

8.45 am: Visit of the chapel in the Lourdes hospital

9.30 am: Mass with the sick in the basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes; Homily of the Holy Father

12.10 pm: Departure by the helicopter from the Antoine Beguere Stadium to the Tarbes-Lourdes airport

12.30 pm: Final ceremony; Discourse of the Holy Father

1.00 pm: Departure

3.15 pm: Arrival at the Ciampino airport in Rome