Pope to Venerate Relics of St. Celestine V

(June 17, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI will visit the earthquake scourged Abruzzi region of Italy on the fourth of July and venerate the relics of St. Celestine V, the 13th-century Pope. The Vatican press office published the official program to the city of Sulmona, located about an hour southwest of the epicentre of the April 2009 quake that left more than 300 dead and more than 65,000 homeless in and around the city of L'Aquila. Pope Benedict XVI visited the region that same month, at which time he made a stop at the Collemaggio Basilica in L'Aquila to pray in front of the casket with the remains of Celestine V. The Pontiff then convoked a Celestine Year from Aug. 28, 2009, to Aug. 29, 2010 that celebrates the 800th birthday of the Pope. Born as Pietro Angeleri in 1209, the future Pope and saint became a monk and hermit who founded the Celestines. He was elected Pontiff in 1294 but he resigned after five months in order to return to the life of a hermit. On July 4^th, Pope Benedict XVI will leave the Vatican at 8:30 a.m. and fly by helicopter to Sulmona, and will arrive at 9:20 a.m. The Pontiff will be welcomed by the Mayor Fabio Federico of Sulmona and by Bishop Angelo Spina of Sulmona-Valva, where the Holy Father will preside at Mass. After the mass the Holy Father will recite the Angelus and at 5 p.m. he will meet with young people, whom he will address in the Cathedral of Sulmona. Afterward, the Pontiff will pray before the relics of St. Celestine V in the cathedral's crypt. The Pope will leave by helicopter at 5:45 pm and will arrive in the Vatican at 6:35 pm.