Pope Benedict 16th starts his first Africa Tour today from Cameroon. He will also visit Angola. Today the pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church arrived in Cameroon.
The Pastoral visit of Pope Benedict 16th to Cameroon and Angola will be between March 17th to March 23rd.
Five days ago in the wake of the first visit to the African continent by the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI from the 17th to the 20th of March 2009, the diplomatic representative of the Holy Father came to polish up preparations with the Head of State of Cameroon, reports the president's website. After discussions that lasted over one hour, His Lordship Antonio ARIOTTI told the press that they had an evaluation of the significance of the entire visit from the welcome ceremony, through the various encounters with Christians and through to the very end of the visit.
He expressed the hope that the Holy Father will meet a very dynamic church in Cameroon, which is one of the reasons why he chose to meet the entire Church of the continent in Cameroon. The Pope must also have discerned certain positive elements in the country which to make it his first destination in Africa.
At the diplomatic level, the Apostolic Nuncio was happy to note that all the officials of Cameroon are working day and night to make the visit, which is an official as well as pastoral and apostolic, to register great success. He said that the visit will touch all aspects of human life, the human being and the promotion of humanity.
OFFICIAL AND PASTORAL VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI TO
CAMEROON
(17 - 20 MARCH 2009)
PROGRAMME
Tuesday, 17 March 2009:
10.00 a.m. - Plane carrying the Holy Father takes off from Fiumicino International Airport
(Rome).
2.00 p.m. - Plane carrying the Holy Father touches down at the Nsimalen International Airport (Yaounde).
WELCOME CEREMONY
Speech by the President of the Republic.
Speech by the Holy Father.
Presentation of Dignitaries.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009:
10.00 a.m. Courtesy call by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on the President of the Republic at Unit y Palace.
11.15a.m. - Meeting with Cameroonian Bishops in the "Christ the King" Parish Church, Tsinga-Yaounde.
12.45 p.m. - Lunch with Cameroonian Bishops and the Papal Delegation at the Apostolic Nunciature, Yaounde.
4.45 p.m. - Celebration of Vespers with bishops, priests, monks, nuns, deacons, ecclesial movements and representatives of other Christian faiths in Cameroon at the "Mary Queen of Apostles" Basilica, Mvolye-Yaounde.
Thursday, 19 March 2009: Feast of Saint Joseph
8.45 a.m. Meeting with representatives of the Muslim Community of Cameroon at the Apostolic Nunciature, Yaounde.
10.00 a.m. - Celebration of Holy Mass on the occasion of the publication of the - Instrumentum Laboris of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops at the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium, in the presence of representatives of National Episcopal Conferences of Africa.
4.30 p.m. - Meeting with the sick at the Cardinal Paul Emile Leger Centre (National Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled).
6.30 p.m. - Working session with members of the Special Council for Africa of the Synod of Bishops at the Apostolic Nunciature.
7.30 p.m. - Dinner with members of the Special Council for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinals and Bishops in the Papal Delegation.
Friday. 20 March 2009:
10.00 a.m. Farewell ceremony at the Nsimalen International Airport,
Yaounde. Speech by the President of the Republic. Speech by the Pope
10.30 a.m. Plane carrying the Holy Father takes off from the Nsimalen International Airport for the Luanda International Airport.
By the official release of Cameroon's Presidential website.
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