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Catholic World News News Feature

Pope accepts April invitation from Italian president February 18, 2005

Pope John Paul II has accepted an invitation from Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the president of the Italian republic, for a formal visit at the Quirinal Palace on April 29, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Italy.

The Holy Father has not made any official appearances outside the Vatican since December 8, when in accordance with tradition he paid a visit to the statue of the Immaculate Conception at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome. Since that time he has continued to meet with political leaders, but always at the Vatican.

Although all papal audiences were suspended at the beginning of February, when he contracted a flu that eventually led to his 9-day hospitalization, his schedule for the coming weeks is now filling up, with a number of official appearances on the agenda.

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi was elected in 1999 as the Italian head of state, and made his first official visit to the Vatican to meet with the Holy Father in October of that year. The two men-- both now 84 years old-- soon established a friendly rapport. Ciampi was among the many world leaders who sent his sympathies to Pope John Paul when he was hospitalized, just as the Pontiff had sent his own encouragement to Ciampi when the Italian leader was forced to undergo surgery last October.