Pope to Visit Tomb of Pontiff Who Abdicated

(July 03, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI will return Sunday to the tomb of the only one of his predecessors to abdicate Peter's Throne, his second visit to the spot in two years. The Pope will visit the earthquake scourged Abruzzi region of Italy on July 4 and venerate the relics of Celestine V, the 13th-century Pope who abdicated the papacy after only five months, on the occasion of his 800^th birthday. The Holy Father visited the tomb the first time when he went to the Abruzzi region shortly after the 2009 earth quake. On that occasion, he left his pallium on the tomb. Pope Celestine, who had the reputation for holiness, was elected to the papacy after a two-year deadlock, at the age of 80, during a time of widespread corruption in the Church. After five months he resigned, hoping to end his life in peace, but his successor, Boniface VIII, had him imprisoned and annulled all his official acts. He died ten months later. Pope Benedict XVI will leave the Vatican at 8:30 a.m. and fly by helicopter to Sulmona, where he will arrive at 9:20 a.m. The Pontiff will be welcomed the Mayor Fabio Federico of Sulmona and by Bishop Angelo Spina of Sulmona-Valva, where the Holy Father will preside at Mass. At 4:30 p.m. he will greet the members of the visit's organizing committee and a delegation of the penitentiary centre of Sulmona. At 5 p.m., the Pope will meet with young people, whom he will address in the Cathedral of Sulmona. Afterward, the Pontiff will pray before the relics of St. Celestine V and leave for Rome at 5:45 pm to arrive in the Vatican at 6:35 pm.