Itinerary announced for Pope’s apostolic journey to Mexico, Cuba

January 03, 2012

The episcopal conferences of Mexico and Cuba have announced the itinerary for Pope Benedict’s apostolic journey to their nations.

Pope Benedict will arrive in León, a central Mexican city of 1.4 million, on March 23. He will meet with President Felipe Calderón the following day and celebrate a public Mass in the city’s Bicentennial Square on March 25.

On March 26, the Pontiff will travel to Santiago de Cuba, the island’s second-largest city, and celebrate Mass in the city’s square. The following day, after venerating the image of Our Lady of Charity (Cuba’s patroness), he will travel to Havana and meet with President Raúl Castro. After celebrating an outdoor Mass in Havana on March 28, he will depart for Rome.

In a break from usual practice, the Vatican Information Service released the schedule for the papal trip, as presented by the episcopal conferences of Mexico and Cuba. Ordinarily the Vatican delays a formal announcement of a papal voyage until a few weeks before it takes place.

 

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Further information:

• Pope Benedict XVI: itinerary for Mexico and Cuba, 2012 (Vatican Radio)
• Programme of the Pope's Apostolic Trip to Mexico and Cuba (VIS)
• Pope confirms plan to visit Cuba, Mexico in early 2012 (CWN, 12/12)