Catholic World News News Feature

Pope will return to Rome on September 28 August 31, 2005

Pope Benedict XVI will leave his summer residence and return to Rome on September 28, the Vatican has announced.

The Holy Father will leave Castel Gandolfo and return to the apostolic palace at the Vatican on the last Wednesday in September, the pontifical household revealed. The papal apartments have been undergoing renovations while Benedict XVI has been away. The Pope will return to a larger study, and his apartment will be furnished with a piano; the Vatican has been slow to disclose other details about the renovations.

Meanwhile the Pope's schedule for September and October is slowly being filled with new public activities. Pope Benedict will meet on September 5 with Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, at Castel Gandolfo. On September 15 he will meet with the two grand rabbis of Israel.

On September 14, during his trip to the Vatican for a Wednesday public audience, the Pontiff will bless a statue of St. Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. The statue was recently installed in the outer wall of St. Peter's Basilica, alongside statues of Sts. Catherine of Siena and Brigitte of Sweden. Upon his return to Rome at the end of September, the Holy Father is expected to visit the Bambino Gesu hospital, located on Rome's Janiculum hill near the Vatican.

In October, the Pope's schedule will be dominated by the Synod of Bishops, which will meet in Rome from the 2nd to 23rd of the month. He will preside at the opening Mass on October 2, and is expected to make regular appearances at the Synod's plenary meetings.