Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Vatican publishes itinerary of papal visit to Austria

EARTHtimes.org - Aug 03 6:07 AM

Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate two masses and will meet voluntary workers as well as state officials in Austria, according to the itinerary of his September 7-9 trip, which was published by the Vatican on Friday. The German-born pontiff will also pay his respects to the Austrian victims of the Holocaust during a brief visit to Vienna's Juden Platz.

Benedict leaves Rome's Ciampino airport on the morning of September 7, a Friday, and meets Austria's president, diplomats and local church officials later in the day.

The highlight and main purpose of his trip to Austria takes place the following day, when he leads Mass at the Basilica of Mariazell on its 850th anniversary.

The 80-year-old pontiff celebrates a second Mass in Vienna on Sunday morning. He then visits the Abbey of Heiligenkreuz and meets Catholic volunteers before returning to Rome on Sunday evening.

The trip to Austria, whose population of 8.2 million is 72 per cent Catholic - according to Vatican data - is Benedict's seventh abroad since his 2005 election.

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 6:12 PM