Portugal Church launches website for papal visit

(February 12, 2010) The Portuguese bishops have announced a new website created for Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming May 11-14 visit to their country. The Permanent Council of the bishops' conference presented the Portuguese-language site at the end of their meeting on Tuesday in Fatima. Father Manuel Morujao, spokesman and secretary of the Portuguese bishops’ conference said that the website will offer "information on the program of the papal visit, news on its preparation, photographs and the possibility of interaction." He added that posters will be circulated along with other images related to the visit. The bishops also announced that the theme of Pope Benedict's visit to Portugal will be, "With You, We Walk in Hope," with the subtitle, "Christianity, Wisdom and Mission." The bishops’ conference noted that the pastoral note it was planning to issue Tuesday regarding the visit has been postponed until the next meeting of the Permanent Council on March 1, because the bishops are presently preparing their Lenten message. The Pontiff will be in Portugal both for a pilgrimage and an official visit. He was invited by the Portuguese bishops’ conference and by the Portuguese government. Celebrations and meetings will be held in Lisbon, Fatima and Oporto.