VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis’ sixth foreign trip of 2019 will take him to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, the Vatican announced.
Publishing an initial schedule for the visit June 28, the Vatican listed the main events — from meetings with government officials and Masses to a visit to a local hospital — but it did not provide precise times for most events.
The following is the initial schedule; times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses.
Wednesday, Sept. 4 (Rome, Maputo)
— 8 a.m. (2 a.m.) Departure from Rome’s Fiumicino airport.
— 6:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m.) Arrival at Maputo airport. Welcome ceremony.
Thursday, Sept. 5 (Maputo)
— Courtesy visit to the president at the Palacio da Ponta Vermelha, the official presidential residence.
— Meeting with authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps at the Palacio da Ponta Vermelha. Speech by pope.
— Interreligious meeting with young people at the Maxaquene Pavilion. Speech by pope.
— Lunch at the apostolic nunciature.
— Meeting with the bishops, priests, religious, seminarians and catechists at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Speech by pope.
Friday, Sept. 6 (Maputo-Antananarivo)
— Visit to Zimpeto Hospital outside Maputo. Greeting by pope.
— Mass in Zimpeto Stadium. Homily by pope.
— Farewell ceremony at Maputo airport.
12:40 p.m. (6:40 a.m.) Departure from Maputo for Antananarivo, Madagascar.
4:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Arrival ceremony at Antananarivo airport.
Saturday, Sept. 7 (Antananarivo)
— Courtesy visit to the president in the Iavoloha Palace.
— Meeting with government authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps in the Ceremony Building. Speech by pope.
— Recitation of midday prayer in the Discalced Carmelite monastery. Homily by pope.
— Lunch in the apostolic nunciature.
— Meeting with the bishops of Madagascar in the Andohalo cathedral. Speech by pope.
— Visit to the tomb of Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo.
— Vigil with young people at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field. Speech by pope.
Sunday, Sept. 8 (Antananarivo)
— Mass at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field. Homily by pope.
— Lunch with the papal entourage at the nunciature.
— Visit to the Akamasoa “Community of Good Friends.” Greeting by the pope.
— Prayer for workers at the Mahatzana building site. Prayer by pope.
— Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians in the College of St. Michael. Speech by pope.
Monday, Sept. 9 (Antananarivo-Port Louis-Antananarivo)
7:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Departure by air for Port Louis, Mauritius.
10:40 a.m. (2:40 a.m.) Arrival ceremony at the Port Louis airport.
— Mass at the monument to Mary, Queen of Peace. Homily by pope.
— Lunch with members of the Epicopal Conference of the Indian Ocean.
— Private visit to the Shrine of Blessed Jacques-Desire Laval, the “apostle of Mauritus.”
— Courtesy visit with the president in the presidential palace.
— Meeting with the prime minister in the presidential palace.
— Meeting with government authorities, civil society leaders and the diplomatic corps in the presidential palace. Speech by pope.
— Farewell ceremony at the Port Louis airport.
— 7 p.m. (11 a.m.) Departure by air to Antananarivo.
— 8 p.m. (1 p.m.) Arrival at Antananarivo airport.
Tuesday, Sept. 10 (Antananarivo-Rome)
— Farewell ceremony at the Antananarivo airport.
— 9:20 a.m. (2:20 a.m.) Departure for Rome.
— 7 p.m. (1 p.m.) Arrival at Rome’s Ciampino airport.