Vatican
City, 17 July 2013 (VIS) – In a press conference held this morning
the director of the Holy See Press Office, Federico Lombardi S.J.,
presented information on Pope Francis' imminent apostolic visit to
Rio de Janeiro for the 28th World Youth Day. Fr. Lombardi reviewed
the Holy Father's programme for the week he will spend in Brazil,
explaining that this journey is “particularly significant in his
continent, and this naturally lends it a particular sense of
anticipation and participation”.
“As
we know”, Fr. Lombardi continued, “it was not his decision to
make his first trip to Latin America, but rather it was his
predecessor Benedict XVI who had confirmed that World Youth Day would
be held in Brazil, and had confirmed that 'the Pope' would be
present, as at all the World Youth Days, even though the Pope in this
case would not have been him. Therefore, Pope Francis is assuming the
legacy of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate in making this trip. You
will recall that practically the same thing happened at the last
change of pontificate: Benedict XVI's first trip was to Germany, his
homeland, to Cologne for the World Youth Day decided by his
predecessor John Paul II”.
“The
trip had already been decided but the programme has also been
adapted, we might indeed say intensified and enriched with further
events with the change of pontificate. The plan that had been drawn
up for Pope Benedict XVI was less demanding, whereas with Pope
Francis, some elements have been added, such as the pilgrimage to
Aparecida, or the vist to the favelas, to the hospital, the meeting
with the Comite de Celam. There are elements which were not scheduled
in the first programme for the trip, intended for Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis has maintained the same days – that is, the trip was
expected to take place from 22 to 29 July even before the change of
pontificate – but more events have been planned for this period,
especially the pilgrimage to Aparecida which will occupy a day that
had in the previous draft programme been intended as a day of rest”.
“Of
course, the Holy Father was invited by the bishops who organised and
promoted the World Youth Day”, added Fr. Lombardi: Orani Tempesti,
archbishop of Rio de Janeiro, and Cardinal Damasceno Assis, president
of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, and naturally also
by the president Dilma Rousseff, “who came to the Vatican “for
the inauguration of the pontificate and who met Francesco the
following day, explicitly inviting him to Brazil. The Pope confirmed
immediately, just a few days after his election, that he intended to
travel to Brazil for World Youth Day, and this helped to speed up
preparations”.
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