Spanish Archbishop Julian Barrio of Santiago de Compostela stated
this week that he is “very satisfied” with the preparations for Pope
Benedict's upcoming visit to the city.
He noted that it will likely be
many years before a Pontiff returns to the region.
“It’s true that His Holiness John Paul II was in Santiago in 1982
during his apostolic visit to Spain and for World Youth Day in 1989,” he
recalled during comments after meeting with officials organizing the
visit.
However, he continued, this will be “the first time” that a Pope
“expressly comes to participate in a Holy Year, as Benedict XVI will
do.”
“I hope there will be many more times, Lord willing, but it is
likely that many years will pass before a Pope will be able to come to
participate in an event like this,” the archbishop said.
Pope Benedict will visit Santiago de Compostela on Nov. 6.
The archbishop went on to say the Pope’s visit to Santiago during
the Holy Year of St. James is of “great importance and transcendence,
not only for the city, but for all of Galicia and Spain and the many
people who will follow the broadcast on television and radio beyond the
ocean.”
While Santiago has significance for Spain and Europe, the archbishop
said, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit will highlight the city’s “universal
dimension.”
SIC: CNA/INT'L