Vatican City, 07 May 2013: The Vatican has announced on Tuesday the details of Pope
Francis’ apostolic journey to Rio de Janeiro to attend the 28th World Youth
Day scheduled for July 22 to 29. Accordingly the Pontiff will leave for Rio de Janeiro
on the morning of Monday, July 22. On his arrival at International Airport Galeão,
he will receive the official reception at 16.00 hrs. An hour later the Pope will attend
the welcome ceremony in the Palace Garden Guanabara in Rio de Janeiro, and will address
them. In the same evening the Pope will pay a courtesy visit to the President of the
Republic.
On Wednesday afternoon, July 24, he will travel to the Shrine of
Our Lady of Conception Aparecida, reaching there next day. The Pope will celebrate
the Holy Mass at10:30 in the Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Conception
of Aparecida. Later he will have lunch with the Bishops of the Province and seminarians
in the Seminary, and then will return to Rio de Janeiro. The Pope will then visit
the hospital Sao Francisco de Assisi in Rio.
On Thursday, July 25, the Holy
Father will receive the keys of the city followed by his blessing of the flags of
Olympics in the City Palace in Rio de Janeiro. He will then visit the community of
Varginha in Rio and address them.
On Friday, July 26, Pope Francis will hear
confessions of some young people attending the 28th WYD. He also will have
a brief encounter with some young prisoners, followed by Angelus Domini from the central
balcony of Archbishop’s Palace. He will greet the Organizing Committee of the XXVIII
World Youth Day, and the benefactors. In the evening he will lead the WAY OF THE CROSS
WITH YOUNG PEOPLE on the waterfront of Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro.
On Saturday,
July 27 the Pope will have Holy Mass with the bishops of 28th WYD, the
priests, Religious and seminarians in the Cathedral of San Sebastiano in Rio de Janeiro.
In the evening Pope will have a prayer vigil with the youth Campus Fidei in Guaratiba.
On
Sunday, July 28, Pope Francis offer Mass for the XXVIII World Youth Day in Campus
fidei in Guaratiba. In the evening he will bid farewell from Sumaré Residence in Rio
de Janeiro, followed by farewell ceremony at the International Airport Galeão. He
will arrive in the Vatican on Monday, July 29.