Pope returns to Vatican on Sept. 30

(September 29, 2008) Pope Benedict XVI concludes his stay at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo and returns to the Vatican on Tuesday. The Pontiff who has been residing at Castel Gandolfo since July 2, on Sunday bade farewell to the people of the hill town. While there, he made his weekly visit to the Vatican for the general audience on Wednesdays as well as made two foreign trips and an Italian visit. The Pope recalled his meeting with the youth of the world at the World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia, in July, and most recently he celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the Marian apparitions in Lourdes, France, in mid-September. He also remembered his two-week vacation in the Italian alpine town of Bressanone and his pastoral visit to Italy’s Sardinia Island.
Monday morning Pope Benedict met the local bishop of Albano, the parish priest, the mayor and representatives of the Italian police and the military who provided him security and transport respectively. After his re-entry into the Vatican, the Pope’s first important visit outside the Vatican will be to Italian President Giorgio Napoletano on Saturday. The follwoing day he will open the world Synod of Bishops on the Bible. That very evening he will kick off the Bible-reading marathon which will be telecast live on Italian state television.