Program of the apostolic voyage of Pope Benedict XVI to Africa

On Mar 17-23, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI will visit African countries Cameron and Angola. He is scheduled to meet politicians, representatives of civic life, bishops, priests and religious, young people as well as representatives of Muslim community.

Vatican:

Detailed schedule of the apostolic voyage
of Pope Benedict XVI to Cameron and Angola
(March 17-23, 2009)

Tuesday, Mar 17

10.00 am: Departure from the Rome's Fiumicino airport

4.00 pm: Arrival at the Nsimalen airport in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameron; welcome and discourse of the Holy Father

Wednesday, Mar 18

8.00 am: Private Mass in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Yaoundé

10.00 am: Audience at the President of Cameron in Palais de l'Unité

11.15 am: Meeting with bishops of Cameron in the church of Christ the King, Tsinga; discourse of the Holy Father

12.45 pm: Lunch with the bishops at the nunciature

4.45 pm: Prayer of Vespers with bishops, priests, religious men and women, deacons, church movements and representatives of other Churches in the basilica of Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles, Mvolyé; discourse of the Holy Father

Thursday, Mar 19

8.45 am: Meeting with representatives of the Muslim community at the nunciature; address by the Holy Father

10.00 am: Mass on the occasion of publishing the Instrumentum laboris of the II Special Session of the Synod of Bishops on Africa, the Amadou Ahidjo stadium; homily of the Holy Father

4.30 pm: Meeting with the sick in the National Centre of Cardinal Paul Emil Léger for the Rehabilitation of the Handicapped; discourse of the Holy Father

6.30 pm: Meeting with the members of the Special Session of the Synod of Bishops about Africa at the apostolic nunciature; discourse of the Holy Father

7.30 pm: Dinner with the members of the Special Session of the Synod of Bishops about Africa at the nunciature

Friday, Mar 20

7.00 am: Private Mass in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature

8.45 am: Farewell to the staff of the apostolic nunciature in Yaoundé

10.00 am: Farewell ceremony at the Nsimalen airport in Yaoundé; discourse of the Holy Father

10.30 am: Departure

12.45 pm: Arrival at the Quatro de Fevereiro airport in Luanda, the capital of Angola, welcome and discourse of the Holy Father

5.00 pm: Audience at the President of Angola in the presidential palace

5.45 pm: Meeting with politicians, representatives of civil society and diplomatic corps in the presidential palace; discourse of the Holy Father

7.00 pm: Meeting with bishops of Angola and Sao Tome in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Luanda

7.45 pm: Dinner with bishops of Angola and Sao Tome in the nunciature

Saturday, Mar 21

10.00 am: Mass with bishops, priests, religious men and women, deacons, church movements and catechists of Angola and Sao Tome in the St Paul's church, Luanda; homily of the Holy Father

4.30 pm: Meeting with young people, Stadium dos Coqueiros in Luanda; discourse of the Holy Father

Sunday, Mar 22

10.00 am: Mass with the bishops of the Inter-regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA), Cimangola esplanade; homily of the Holy Father

After the Mass: 'Angelus' and the discourse of the Holy Father

4.45 pm: Meeting with representatives of church movements on the promotion of women rights, St Anthony parish, Luanda; discourse of the Holy Father

Monday, Mar 23

7.30 am: Private Mass in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Luanda

9.15 am: Farewell to the staff of the apostolic nunciature

10.00 am: Farewell ceremony at the Quatro de Fevereiro airport in Luanda; discourse of the Holy Father

10.30 am: Departure

6.00 pm: Arrival at the Rome's Ciampino airport