Pope Francis will visit the northern Italian cities of Cesena and Bologna on Oct.1, 2017, welcoming the invitation of the respective diocesan bishops, Bishop of Cesena-Sarsina, Msgr. Regattieri Douglas, and Archbishop of Bologna, Msgr. Matteo Maria Zuppi.
Announcing the visit, the Vatican press office stressed that the visit to Cesena will coincide with the 300-year anniversary of the birth there of Pope Pius VI, and that the visit to Bologna will take place during the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress.
Here is the Vatican-provided program of the visit:
Program – Sunday, October 1
Cesena:
– Arrival at the Hippodrome helicopter Cesena
– Meeting with the citizens in Piazza del Popolo
– Meeting with the clergy, young people and families, in the Cathedral
– Departure by helicopter from the Hippodrome of Cesena
Bologna:
– Arrival in Bologna
– Visit to the ‘regional hub’ on Via Mattei
– Meeting with young people landed on Italian shores
– Recitation of the Angelus in Piazza Grande, with the participation of the ‘world of work’
– Lunch with the poor in the Basilica of San Petronio
– Meeting with the Clergy in the Cathedral
– Meeting with the academic world, in the Basilica of San Domenico
– Celebration of the Mass – Homily
– Departure by helicopter from Bologna and return to the Vatican.
