APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO CYPRUS
Friday, June 4
|
09:30 |
Departure from Rome |
| 14:00 |
Arrival at Paphos Airport and welcome ceremony The Holy Father will be greeted by the President of Cyprus, Mr Demetris Christofias and his wife, the Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus with his Entourage, Catholic Patriarchs and bishops and others. |
| 15:15 |
Arrival at the Orthodox Church of Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa in Pafos The church, which is also open to worship for Catholics and Anglicans, faces the archaeological site of the paleo-christian basilica where the legendary "column of St. Paul", object of an ancient popular devotion, is kept. The Holy Father will enter the church for a short prayer. |
| 15:30 |
ECUMENICAL CELEBRATION Outside the church of Agia Kyriaki, a podium will be set for the celebration. At the beginning of the ecumenical celebration, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II addresses a greeting to the Holy Father. |
| 16:30 | Transfer to Nicosia |
| 18:15 |
Arrival at the Apostolic Nunciature This is the residence of the Holy Father located at the compound of the Franciscan friary of Holy Cross, belonging to the Custody of the Holy Land, with adjacent the church of the same name, which is the parish of the Catholic Latin Community of Cyprus. The church and the Franciscan friary are within the United Nations buffer zone, near the "Paphos Gate". |
Saturday, June 5
| 09:15 |
Courtesy visit to the President of the republic The President and his wife await the Holy Father outside the palace, near the statue of Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of the Republic. The Holy Father places a wreath of flowers at the foot of the monument. The President accompanies the Holy Father inside the palace and presents the respective delegations in the Ceremonial Hall. At the end the Holy Father and the President go to the large Palace garden where the Civil Authorities and the Diplomatic Corps are gathered. |
| 09:45 |
Meeting with the Civil Authorities and the Diplomatic Corps |
| 10:30 |
Transfer to the St. Maronas, elementary school in Anthoupolis |
| 10:45 |
Meeting with the Catholic Community of Cyprus The Holy Father will be greeted by the Catholic Communities of Cyprus: the Maronite and Latin Communities. Thousands of people are expected to be gathered at the school of St. Maronas and the meeting will take place in the form of the Celebration of the World. A special cultural program, illustrating the history and the heritage of the communities will be presented. |
| 12:00 |
Transfer to the Orthodox Archbishopric |
| 12:15 |
Courtesy visit to H.B. Chrysostomos, Archbishop of Cyprus The Archbishop greets the Holy Father at the entrance of the building and accompanies Him to visit the monument of Archbishop Makarios, the Cathedral and the museum of icons. |
| 13:30 |
Lunch with H.B. Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Cyprus And with respective delegations |
| 14:45 |
Transfer to the Apostolic Nunciature (the residence) |
| 17:30 |
HOLY MASS At the church of the Holy Cross at the compound of the Franciscan convent of Holy Cross, near the ‘’Paphos Gate’’, with Priests, Religious, Nuns, Deacons, catechists and Catholic Ecclesial Movements of Cyprus. |
Sunday, June 6
| 09:30 |
HOLY MASS At the Eleftheria Sports Palace in Makedonitissa, Nicosia For the occasion of the publication of the ‘’Instrumentum Laboris’’ of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East. The presence of the Patriarchs and Bishops of the Middle East, with representatives of their respective communities is scheduled. After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father gives a copy of the "Intrumentum Laboris" to each member of the Special Council of the Synod. Thousands of faithful are expected to participate at the Palace and special arrangements for giant screen installation is arranged in the outdoor area. |
| 12:15 |
Transfer to the Apostolic Nunciature |
| 16:30 |
Visit to the Maronite Cathedral of Cyprus The Cathedral of our Lady of Graces, near the ‘’Paphos Gate’’ The Holy Father will enter the cathedral for a short prayer and short greetings. Faithful of the Maronite community of Cyprus will greet him with prayers and hymns by the choir. |
| 17:00 | Transfer to the Larnaka International airport |
| 17:45 |
Farewell Ceremony Farewell by the President of the Republic and farewells of the respective delegations. |
| 20:45 | Arrival at Rome |