POPE TO VISIT PRECA TOMB, SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2001 (VIS) - Pope John Paul, after the Mass and beatifications this morning, left St. Publius Square, also known as the Granaries, in Floriana and returned to the apostolic nunciature in Rabat where he had lunch with the Maltese bishops and the cardinals and bishops of the papal entourage.

On the Pope's schedule for this afternoon is a visit to Hamrun and the Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal which houses the tomb of Blessed George Preca, who was beatified earlier in the day. The Pope will be welcomed by the superiors general of the male and female branches of the Society of Christian Doctrine (SCD), founded by Blessed Preca in Malta in 1907 and located in a building next to the church.

After his private visit to the church and tomb of Blessed Preca, the Holy Father will go to the SCD auditorium for a liturgy of the Word and will speak to those assembled.

At 6 p.m. the Pope is scheduled to go directly from the SCD Center to Gudja International Airport where there will be a farewell ceremony before he departs for the hour and a half flight back to Rome.

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