French Bishops confirm dates for Pope's visit

(April 29, 2008) The Catholic Bishops of France on Monday confirmed the dates for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to France to mark the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions in Lourdes. The Pope will arrive in Paris on Sept. 12. He is scheduled to meet civil leaders, including President Nicolas Sarkozy. Later on, he will give a discourse directed to the world of culture. That evening in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Holy Father will celebrate vespers with priests, deacons, religious and seminarians. Afterward, he will address the youth. On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Pontiff will celebrate a public Mass. Also during his time in the capital city, Benedict XVI will meet with representatives of other Christian confessions, as well as Jewish and Muslim leaders, the French bishops reported. Saturday afternoon, the Holy Father will proceed to Lourdes, in southern France, and deliver a homily. Sunday, Sept. 14, the Pope will preside over a solemn Mass with the pilgrims. That afternoon, he will meet with French bishops and participate in a Eucharistic procession. The next day, the Holy Father will administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick during a Mass. He will return to Rome that Monday afternoon.
The 150th anniversary this year is commemorating a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary to a young French shepherd girl, Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes. The Virgin who described Herself as the Immaculate Conception is said to have appeared to 18 times between February 11 and July 16, 1858.