Planning for Assisi

Earlier today, the Vatican Press Office released the programme for the Holy Father's visit to Assisi on October 4 of this year - the Liturgical Memorial of Saint Francis.

The Holy Father will depart from the Vatican heliport at 7:00am on October 4, and will fly to Assisi where he will land on the sports field outside the Instituto Serafico.  At 8:00am, the Holy Father will meet with disabled children and the infirm at the Instituto Serafico hospital, and will deliver a prepared speech.

At 9:00am that morning, the Pope will make a private visit to the Sanctuary of San Damiano and at 9:30, he will meet with the poor who are assisted by Caritas in the Sala della Spoliazione, at the residence of the Bishop of Assisi.  The Holy Father will also deliver a prepared speech to that gathering.

At 10:00am, the Holy Father will make a private visit to the Church of Saint Mary Major and at 10:20, he is scheduled to make a private visit to the Major Basilica of Saint Francis, and to the crypt contained within that Basilica, where he will visit the tomb of the venerated Saint.

At 11:00am, the Pope will preside at the celebration of the Mass which will take place in the Piazza outside the Basilica of Saint Francis.  During the celebration, the Holy Father will preach the homily and will offer the votive lamp which burns before the tomb of Saint Francis, the Patron Saint of Italy.

Following the completion of the Mass, the Holy Father will share lunch with the poor and with representatives from Caritas in Donegiani Square at the Church of Saint Mary of the Angels.

At 2:30pm, the Holy Father will make a private visit to the Prison Hermitage and pray in the cell where Saint Francis was imprisoned.

At 3:15pm, His Holiness will meet with the clergy, persons of Consecrated Life and members of the Pastoral Councils of the Diocese of Assisi.  This encounter will take place at the Cathedral of San Rufino.  The Holy Father will deliver a prepared speech at that time.

At 4:15pm, the Pope will venerate the mortal remains of Saint Clare, located in the crypt of the Basilica of Saint Clare.  He will also spend a moment of silent prayer before the crucifix of San Damiano in the Choir Chapel of the Basilica and will then address the cloistered nuns who live there.

At 5:30pm, His Holiness will visit and pray silently at the Porziuncola of the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, and at 5:45pm, he will meet with youth from Umbria in the Piazza outside that same Basilica.  During that encounter, four youth will have an opportunity to pose questions to the Holy Father, who will respond to their queries.

At 6:45, the Pope will pay a private visit to the Shrine at Rivotorto, including Saint Francis' hovel.

At 7:15pm, His Holiness will leave Assisi by helicopter, and return to the Vatican.