John Paul II Celebrates Mass in Private and Goes to Guadalupe

VATICAN CITY, AUG 1, 2002 (VIS) - John Paul II began the last day of his 97th international apostolic trip by celebrating mass early this morning in private in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Mexico City.

Once mass is over, at approximately 9 a.m. local time (4 p.m. Rome time), after saying goodbye to the nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello, and the Mexican ecclesiastical representatives who have accompanied him during his stay in the country, the Pope will go in the popemobile to the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, greeting numerous groups of people who will be waiting along the 20 kilometer route for the papal entourage to pass by.

The Holy Father will arrive at the basilica around 10:15 a.m. local time (5:15 p.m. Rome time) to preside at the beautification ceremony of Juan Batista and Jacinto de los Angeles, the indigenous Zapotec martyrs of Oaxaca.

Vatican Information Service
1. august 2002