Programme of the Pope's apostolic trip to Mexico

Vatican City, 12 December 2015 (VIS) – The programme of the Holy Father's apostolic trip to Mexico, to take place from 12 to 18 February, was published today.

On Friday 12 February at 12.30 p.m. the Holy Father will depart by air from Rome's Fiumicino airport, to arrive at the “Benito Juarez” International airport in Mexico City at 19.30 p.m. local time, where he will be welcome by the authorities. At 9.30 a.m. on the morning of Saturday 13 February the welcome ceremony will take place in the National Palace, and the Pope will pay a courtesy visit to the president of the Republic of Mexico, followed by a meeting with the authorities, civil leaders and the diplomatic corps. At 11.30 a.m. he will meet with the bishops in the Cathedral. In the afternoon, at 5. p.m., he will celebrate Holy Mass in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

The following day, Sunday 14 February, he will transfer by helicopter to Ecatepec where, at 10.30 a.m. he will celebrate Holy Mass in the area of the Ecatepec Study Center. He will return by helicopter to Mexico City where he is expected to arrive at 1.10 p.m. In the afternoon he will visit the “Federico Gomez” paediatric hospital and will meet with cultural figures in the National Auditorium.

On Monday 15 February at 7.30 a.m., the Pope will depart by air for Tuxtla Gutierrez, and will then transfer by helicopter to San Cristobal de Las Casas where he is expected to arrive at 9.15 a.m. He will celebrate Mass with the indigenous Chiapas communities in the municipal sports centre at 10.15 a.m., followed by lunch with indigenous peoples and the papal entourage. At 3 p.m. he will visit the Cathedral of San Cristobal de las Casas and will then return by helicopter to Tuxtla Gutierrez, where he will meet with families in the “Victor Manuel Reyna” stadium. At 6.10 p.m. he will depart by air for Mexico City where he is expected to arrive at 8 p.m.

On Tuesday 16 February at 7.50 a.m. he will travel by air to Morelia where, at 10 a.m., he will celebrate Mass with priests, consecrated persons and seminarians. Following a visit to the Cathedral at 3.15 p.m., he met with young people in the “Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon” stadium. At 6.55 p.m. he will return by air to Mexico City, arriving at 8 p.m.

On the sixth and final day of the trip, Wednesday 17 February, at 8.35 a.m. the Holy Father will depart by air for Ciudad Juarez, where he is scheduled to arrive at the city's “Abraham Gonzalez” international airport at 10 a.m. He will first visit the CeReSo No. 3 detention centre, and will then meet with representatives of the world of work at the Colegio de Bachilleres of the State of Chihuahua at midday. At 4 p.m. he will celebrate Mass at the Ciudad Juarez trade centre. Following a farewell ceremony at 7 p.m. at the international airport, he will leave Mexico at 7.15 p.m., destined for Rome's Ciampino airport, where he is expected to arrive at 2.45 p.m. on Thursday 18 February.