Loreto’s Archbishop Giovanni Tonucci revealed on June 30 that the Holy Father plans to visit the shrine on October 4.
Pope Benedict will be replicating a leg of the pilgrimage made by Pope John XXIII before the opening of Vatican II.
During his pilgrimage, the archbishop said, Pope Benedict will pray for the intercession of the Virgin Mary for the work of the Synod and the success of the Year of Faith.
The October 2012 meeting of the Synod of Bishops will discuss the “new evangelization,” a theme dear to Pope Benedict.
The Pontiff has frequently mentioned that the Synod meeting will take place on the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II.