Pope to visit Lebanon

Pope Benedict

The Vatican announced today that Pope Benedict is to make an apostolic trip to Lebanon from 14 to 16 September in order to sign the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, which took place in the Vatican in October 2010. During his short visit the Holy Father will meet heads of the Muslim communities, Church leaders and politicians.

On his arrival the Pope is scheduled to visit the basilica of St Paul in Harissa where he will sign the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.

On Saturday 15 September the Pope will travel to the presidential palace at Baabda where he will pay a courtesy visit to the president of Lebanon, as well as to the prime minister and the speaker of the parliament. He will then meet with the heads of Muslim communities before going on to pronounce an address before representatives from government, State institutions, the diplomatic corps, religious leaders and the world of culture.

On the same day the Pope will have lunch at the Armenian Catholic Patriarchate of Bzommar with patriarchs and bishops of Lebanon, members of the Special Council for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, and the papal entourage. At 6 p.m. he is scheduled to deliver an address to young people gathered on the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate at Bkerke.

On Sunday 16 September the Holy Father will celebrate Mass at Beirut City Centre Waterfront in the morning and consign the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. Later in the day he will preside at an ecumenical gathering in the Syro-Catholic Patriarchate of Charfet before leaving for Rome.

Source: VIS