2010-07-07 15:16:00

Spain readies for Pope’s historical visit


(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.








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