LONDON, MAY 25, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The United Kingdom is counting down the days until Benedict XVI’s September 16-19 visit.
Monsignor Andrew Summersgill, a Papal visit coordinator, noted some of the most recent preparations in a press release publicized today by the bishops’ conference of England and Wales.
«This week,» he said, «my thoughts centered on what the Pope’s going to do in Westminster Hall.»
The Pontiff’s address will be «quite a splendid occasion […] as it will be a gathering of people from across Britain representing all the different strands of British society who will be brought together in order to listen to what Pope Benedict has to say to contemporary society,» the priest stated.
He continued, «So although it’s in Westminster Hall, it’s not addressed solely and exclusively to parliamentarians — in fact, properly, it’s not — it’s the whole of British society coming together.»
Monsignor Summersgill noted that although the exact itinerary of the Holy Father’s visit has not been released, it is expected sometime «between six to eight weeks» of his arrival.
He explained, «The Holy See’s normal way of doing these things is to publish, on its own Web site, the line-by-line itinerary.»
The priest encouraged people to go to the Vatican’s Web site and look at previous apostolic journey schedules that show «where the Pope has been and the itineraries he has followed.»
«They talk about his arrival times at places, how he moves around, the time he spends at places and they’re quite interesting,» Monsignor Summersgill said. «We would expect to have that detail available somewhere between six and eight weeks before Pope Benedict gets here.»
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On the Net:
Apostolic journeys: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/index_outside-italy_en.htm
Papal U.K. visit: http://thepapalvisit.org.uk/
