Pope to Meet Young People and Royalty During Spain Trip

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 11, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican published the official program of John Paul II's scheduled May 3-4 visit to Spain.

After departing from Rome's Fiumicino Airport, the Pope will land at Barajas International Airport in Madrid at noon May 3. He will speak during the welcome ceremony.

At 5:30 p.m., he is scheduled to meet with the president of the government at the apostolic nunciature, and at 6:45 p.m. to participate in a gathering with young people at the Cuatro Vientos Air Base.

On Sunday, May 4, at 10 a.m., he will celebrate Mass in the Plaza de Colon (Columbus Square) and will canonize Pedro Poveda Castroverde, José María Rubio y Peralta, Genoveva Torres Morales, Angela de la Cruz, and María Maravillas de Jesús.

At 1:45 p.m. the Pope will have lunch with the cardinals and members of the Spanish episcopal conference, as well as prelates from his entourage.

At 5 p.m. John Paul II is scheduled to meet with the king and queen in the nunciature and at 6:15 p.m. a farewell ceremony will take place. The papal plane will leave Madrid at 6:45 p.m.; it is scheduled to arrive in Rome at 8:15 p.m.

ZENIT Daily dispatch - The World Seen from Rome
11. april 2003