Pope Benedict XVI on Monday began a sixteen-day vacation in the Italian Alps in the country's northwest.The pope flew to the city of Turin before transferring by helicopter to the scenic region of Val D'Aosta, where he was welcomed by local dignitaries and a group of 12 children.
Benedict will stay at Les Combes, about 20 kilometres from the city of Aosta in the municipality of Introd until 29 July.
The children wished the pontiff a 'happy holiday' in Italian, French and the local language or 'Patois' and gave him gifts.
As he did in 2005 and 2006, the pontiff will stay in a chalet where his predecessor the late Pope John Paul II often used to spend his holidays.
The building, made of wood and stone, has two floors and is surrounded by a large garden.
It sits at an altitude of 1200 meters and has stunning views over France's Mont Blanc and other mountains on the French-Italian frontier as well as the Italian-Swiss Alps.
The only two public ceremonies scheduled for the Pope's vacation are on Sunday 19 July and Sunday 26 July.
Following his vacation in Valle d'Aosta, the Pope will move to his summer residence of Castelgandolfo, 30 kilometres south of Rome, where he will remain until the end of September.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Source (AKI)
SV (ED)