(July 07,2010) Pope Benedict XVI's trip to Spain this November to mark Apostle
Jame’s jubilee year, is a first in history, as a Pope has never expressly gone to
Spain for the event. Pope Benedict will arrive in Santiago de Compostela on Nov.
6, the city’s Archbishop Julián Barrio affirmed on Tuesday at a press conference
regarding the papal visit. The prelate noted the uniqueness of the trip, saying it
is the first time in the history of the Church that a Pope will be visiting in a holy
year. The Catholic Church of Santiago de Compostela declares a Holy or Jubilee
Year, whenever St. James feast of July 25 falls on a Sunday. The last such year was
2004 and the next one will be in 2021. The Archbishop clarified that late Pope
John Paul II had visited this city in 1982 -- which was also a jubilee year, but
he did so, on the occasion of the pastoral visit he made that year to Spain. On this
occasion, Pope Benedict has wished to come specifically to mark the Jubilee Year
of Apostle James. Hence the exceptional nature of this event" the Archbishop noted.
While the Vatican will announce the official program in September, Archbishop
Barrio said the papal visit will include three public ceremonies, the first will be
his arrival ceremony. After going to the city, Pope Benedict will visit the cathedral
for a few moments of prayer before the place where, according to tradition, Apostle
James rests. He will also address a few words to those present. Then he will go to
the archbishop's residence for lunch and rest before presiding over a Mass in Obradoiro
Square. In the late afternoon, the Pontiff will return to the airport, where he will
be seen off by a small number of government and church officials. Archbishop Barrio
spoke of the eventual fruits of the Pope's visit to Santiago de Compostela, saying
we hope to go on discovering them not only in the course of this year but above all
in the years to come. He asserted that Pope Benedict is very conscious of what Santiago
means for the renewal of Europe. That is why he did not want to miss this occasion,
he added.