The Vatican has announced Pope Benedict XVI's schedule for his apostolic trip to Germany in September.
The Pope will begin his trip in Berlin on Sept. 22, according to the Vatican’s July 20 announcement.
During
an opening welcome ceremony, the Pope will meet with the president of
the Federal Republic of Germany, Christian Wulff, at his residence at
Bellevue Castle.
Afterward, he will meet with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel at the headquarters of the German Bishop's Conference.
Later
on the same day, the Pope will visit with the German parliament and
representatives of the local Jewish community, before celebrating the
first Mass of the apostolic visit in Berlin's Olympic stadium.
On
Sept. 23, the Pope will meet with representatives of the local Muslim
community, just ahead of flying to the city of Erfurt, which is located
in the center of the country.
In that city, he will visit St. Mary's
Cathedral, and will address representatives of the German Evangelical
Church Council before participating in a Christian celebration with
them.
In the afternoon, the Pope will take a helicopter to Etzelsbach where he will pray Marian Vespers before returning to Erfurt.
On
the morning of Sept. 24, he will celebrate Mass at Erfurt's Domplatz
church.
Pope Benedict will then fly to the southeastern city of Freiburg
im Breisgau to visit the local cathedral and seminary.
While the
Pope is in Freiburg, he will meet with former German chancellor Helmut
Kohl, representatives from the Orthodox churches, local seminarians, and
the Central Committee of German Catholics.
That evening, the Pope will preside over a prayer vigil with local youth at the Freiburg Fair.
On
September 25, the final day of his trip, Pope Benedict will travel to
the local airport where he will celebrate Mass, pray the Angelus, and
bid his fellow countrymen farewell with a departure ceremony.
The trip will be the German Pope's third visit to his homeland since his election.