Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - The programme of Pope Benedict XVI’s four day apostolic journey 18 to 21 August, to Cologne in Germany for the 20th World Youth Day was released today at the Holy See press office. The Pope will depart from Rome’s Ciampino airport at 10am on Thursday 18 August and arrive at Köln/Bonn airport at 12 noon. After the welcome ceremony at the airport the Pope will go to the residence of the Archbishop of Köln where he will stay during the visit. In the afternoon the Holy Father will join young people aboard a Rhine ferry for a Welcome Celebration as they sail down the River to a dock near Kolne cathedral. Here the Pope will alight to visit Kolne cathedral and then return by car to the Archbishop’s residence.
On Friday 19 August the Pope will make courtesy call on the President of Germany Horst Koehler and then visit Kolne Synagogue where he will address the Jewish community. He will then return to the Archbishop’s residence for lunch with a group of young people. The afternoon programme will include a meeting with seminarians at St. Pantaleon church in Köln and an ecumenical Meeting at the Archbishop’s residence.
On Saturday 20 August the Pope will receive civil and political authorities in the morning and representatives of various Muslim communities in the afternoon. In the evening at 8.30pm he will preside the World Youth Day Vigil at Marienfeld ground.
On Sunday 21 August the Pope will return to the Marienfeld ground to preside 20th World Youth Day Mass in the presence of thousands of young people from all over the world. At the end of the Mass the Pope will lead the midday Angelus prayer. In the afternoon after a meeting with the Bishops of Germany the Holy Father will greet the WYD organising Committee and depart for Rome from Köln/Bonn airport at 7.30 for Ciampino (Rome). (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/7/2005, righe 21, parole 289)
