VATICAN - PROGRAMME OF EVENTS TO MARK 25TH YEAR OF JOHN PAUL ELECTION TO THE PAPACY RELEASED: CELEBRATIONS TO CULMINATE WITH BEATIFICATION OF MOTHER TERESA ON MISSION SUNDAY

Monday, 22 September 2003

Vatican City (Fides Service) – The Vatican has released the programme of events to mark the 25th anniversary of John Paul II’s election to the See of Peter, 16th October 1978-2003.
On Wednesday 15 October the Pope will hold his general audience as usual in St Peter’s square. That afternoon, in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican there will be a Conference to mark the anniversary organised by the College of Cardinals for Cardinals and Patriarchs, Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences, Department heads of the Roman Curia. The opening talks will be given by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin and Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger respectively on “The Petrine Ministry and Communion in the Episcopate” and “Priests, Consecrated Life and Vocations”.
On Thursday 16 October in the Sala Clementina at 11 am the Pope will sign the post synodal Exhortation on the Ministry of Bishops. At 6pm that same evening the Pope will preside a special Mass of thanksgiving in St Peter’s Square.
On Friday 17 in the morning there will be the second part of the Conference organised by the College of Cardinals with talks by Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo and Cardinal Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir respectively on “The Family” on “Ecumenism”. Again in the Paul VI Hall, in the evening at 6pm the Orchestra and Choir of Leipzig will perform a Concert for the Pope.
On Saturday 18 October the final talks of the Conference will be given by Cardinal Ivan Dias and Cardinal Angelo Sodano on “Missions” and “Twenty Five Years t the service of Peace” after which, at 11am, the College of Cardinals will address a Message to the Pope who will then deliver his discourse. In the Paul VI Hall that evening at 5.30 there will be a Missionary Prayer Vigil.
On Sunday 19 October, Mission Sunday, in St Peter’s Square the Pope will preside Mass for the beatification of the Servant of God, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. SL (Fides Service 22/9/2003 EM lines 25 Words: 319)


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