VATICAN - Benedict XVI begins his apostolic trip to the United States of America

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - With his flight from Rome's Fiumicino airport to Washington, D.C. today, April 15, the Holy Father begins his apostolic trip to the United States of America, which will include a visit to the United Nations Headquarters. The Pope will arrive at 4pm today to the Andrews Air Force Base (Washington, D.C.), where he will be received by the President of the United States of America. He will later be escorted to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington.
On Wednesday, April 16, after celebrating a Mass in the private chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, the Pope will go to the White House for a welcome ceremony and a visit to the President of the United States. Benedict XVI will attend a luncheon with the U.S. Cardinals, the Praesidium of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) and with the Papal Entourage at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington. In the afternoon, he is scheduled to meet with representatives from Catholic charitable foundations, in the Nunciature. The Holy Father will later make his way to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington for the celebration of Vespers and an encounter with the US Bishops.
On Thursday, April 17, the Pope will celebrate Mass in Nationals Park in Washington at 10am. In the afternoon, at 5pm, he is scheduled to hold an encounter with students of the Catholic University of America. At 6:30pm, there will be an Interreligious Gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington.
On Friday, April 18, after having celebrated the Mass in the private chapel at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, the Holy Father will depart for New York. He is scheduled to arrive at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Airport at 9:45am. At 10:45am he will visit the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and will address the UN General Assembly. At 6pm, in St. Joseph’s Church, he will hold an ecumenical prayer service.
Saturday, April 19, at 9:15am, the Pope will celebrate the Holy Mass with priests and religious in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. At 4:30pm, he will have an encounter with young people and seminarians at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York.
On Sunday, April 20, at 9:30am, the Holy Father will visit Ground Zero in New York, for a moment of prayer and at 2:30pm, he will celebrate Mass in Yankee Stadium (New York). At 8pm, there will be a farewell ceremony at JFK Airport in New York, where the Pope will board the plane to return to Rome, where he will arrive at 10:45am on Monday, April 21. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 15/4/2008; righe 34, parole 436)