CNS STORY: In Spain, pope to hold nine major meetings with young people

WYD-SCHEDULE Jun-27-2011 (590 words) With map and photo. xxxi

In Spain, pope to hold nine major meetings with young people

By John Thavis
Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI will preside over nine major events with young people during World Youth Day celebrations in Madrid in August, including a prayer vigil and a closing Mass expected to draw more than a million people.

The pope will hear the confessions of several young people, host a group of youths for lunch and lead a Way of the Cross with young people in central Madrid.

He will also meet with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and with members of the royal family during his Aug. 18-21 visit.

It will be the third international World Youth Day encounter for the German pope, who met with young people in 2005 in Cologne, Germany, and in 2008 in Sydney.

Here is the schedule for the pope's trip as released April 18 by the Vatican. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses.

Thursday, Aug. 18 (Rome, Madrid)

-- 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m.), Departure from Rome's Ciampino airport.

-- Noon (6 a.m.), Arrival at Madrid's Barajas International Airport. Speech by the pope.

-- 7:15 p.m. (1:15 p.m.), Walk with several young people at Alcala Gate in Independence Square.

-- 7:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.), Welcoming ceremony with young people in the Plaza de Cibeles. Speech by the pope.

Friday, Aug. 19 (Madrid, San Lorenzo de El Escorial)

-- 7:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m.), Private Mass in chapel of apostolic nunciature in Madrid.

-- 10 a.m. (4 a.m.), Courtesy visit to Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at Zarzuela Palace.

-- 11:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m.), Meeting with young women religious in the Courtyard of the Kings at San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Greeting by the pope.

-- Noon (6 a.m.), Meeting with young university professors in the basilica of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Speech by the pope.

-- 1:45 p.m. (7:45 a.m.), Lunch with young people in the room of the ambassadors at the apostolic nunciature.

-- 5:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m.), Official meeting with Zapatero in the apostolic nunciature.

-- 7:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m.), Way of the Cross with young people in the Plaza de Cibeles. Speech by the pope.

Saturday, Aug. 20 (Madrid)

-- 9 a.m. (3 a.m.), Sacrament of penance with several young people in the Jardines del Buen Retiro.

-- 10 a.m. (4 a.m.), Mass with seminarians in the Almudena Cathedral. Homily by the pope.

-- 12:45 p.m. (6:45 a.m.), Lunch with Spanish cardinals, bishops from Madrid province, auxiliary bishops of Madrid and papal entourage in the cardinal's residence.

-- 5 p.m. (11 a.m.), Meeting with organizing committee of the 26th World Youth Day in the apostolic nunciature.

-- 7:40 p.m. (1:40 p.m.), Visit to the Fundacion Instituto San Jose. Speech by the pope.

-- 8:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m.), Prayer vigil with young people at Madrid's Cuatro Vientos Airport. Speech by the pope.

Sunday, Aug. 21 (Madrid, Rome)

-- 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m.), Mass for 26th World Youth Day at Cuatro Vientos Airport. Homily by the pope.

Recital of Angelus, with talk by the pope.

-- 12:45 p.m. (6:45 a.m.), Lunch with Spanish cardinals and papal entourage in apostolic nunciature.

-- 5 p.m. (11 a.m.), Departure from apostolic nunciature.

-- 5:30 p.m. (11:30 a.m.), Meeting with World Youth Day volunteers at Pavilion 9 of the new Feria de Madrid. Speech by the pope.

-- 6:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m.), Departure ceremony at Barajas International Airport. Speech by the pope.

-- 7 p.m. (1 p.m.), Departure from Madrid's Barajas International Airport.

-- 9:30 p.m. (3:30 p.m.), Arrival at Rome's Ciampino airport.

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