in English
From September 22 to 27, John Paul II will make a pastoral visit to Kazakhstan, and an apostolic trip to Armenia on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in that country.
Vatican (kath.net/VIS)
The Pope will depart from Rome's Fiumicino Airport on Saturday, September22, at 8:30 a.m., and is scheduled to arrive at the International Airportof Astana, Kazakhstan, at 7:30 p.m. After the welcome ceremony, he willvisit the Monument for the victims of the totalitarian regime.
On Sunday, September 23, John Paul II will celebrate Mass in the Motherof the Homeland Square of Astana, followed by the recitation of theAngelus. He will then travel to the apostolic nunciature for a meeting andlunch with the ordinaries of Central Asia and with the cardinals andbishops of the papal entourage. At 5:30 p.m., the Pope will pay a courtesyvisit to the president of the Republic at the Presidential Palace ofAstana, followed by a youth meeting at the Eurasia University.
At 10:00 a.m. on Monday the 24th, John Paul II will celebrate Mass withpriests, religious, and seminarians at the Cathedral of the Virgin ofPerpetual Help. At 6:00 p.m. he will meet with representatives of the worldof culture, arts and science.
On Tuesday the 25th, John Paul II will celebrate Mass in private in theChapel of the Apostolic Nunciature and travel to the airport of Astana fora farewell ceremony. He will then depart for Yerevan, Armenia, where he isscheduled to arrive at 1:00 p.m. From the airportin Yerevan, the Pope willtravel to the Apostolic See of Etchmiadzin and make a prayer visit to theApostolic Cathedral, where he will give a discourse. At 6:00 p.m. he willhold an official meeting with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarchand Catholicos of All Armenians.
The Holy Father will celebrate Mass in private on Wednesday the 26th, at7:30 a.m., in the Chapel of the Apostolic Palace of Etchmiadzin, followedby a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic at the PresidentialPalace of Yerevan. At 11:30 a.m. he is scheduled to visit the Memorial ofTzitzernagaberd at Yerevan, where he will spend time in prayer. At 1:00p.m. he will have lunch with the Supreme Patriarch, with archbishops andbishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and with the cardinals andbishops of the Papal entourage. At 6:30 p.m. he will travel to the newApostolic Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator for an ecumenicalcelebration.
At 9:30 a.m. on Thursday the 27th, the Holy Father will celebrate Mass inthe Latin rite at the external Grand Altar of Etchmiadzin and give ahomily. Following this, he will have lunch at the Armenian Catholic Centerof Kanaker at Yerevan. At 4:30 p.m. he will bid farewell from the ApostolicCathedral of Etchmiadzin, and at 5:30 p.m. he will visit the Monastery ofKhor Virab. The Pope will then travel to the Zvarnotz International Airportof Yerevan for the farewell ceremony. The Papal airplane will depart at7:30 p.m. and is estimated to arrive in Rome at 8:45 p.m.
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