Velehrad: The Pope is scheduled to arrive at Ruzyne airport in Prague on Saturday, Sep 26, in the morning. He will then meet political representatives at the Prague Castle and celebrate vespers together with priests and religious persons in the cathedral of Ss Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert. On Sunday, Sep 27, the Holy Father will travel to Brno and celebrate the Mass at Turany airport. In the afternoon he will return back to Prague and meet representatives of the Ecumenical Council of Churches as well as of the academic world. Last day of the papal visit is the Monday, Sep 28, solemnity of St Wenceslaus, patron saint of the Czech Land. Benedict XVI will celebrate the Mass on the occasion of the National Pilgrimage to St Wenceslaus and meet young people in Stará Boleslav, where St Wenceslaus was martyred in 935.

Benedict XVI is the second Pope to visit the Czech Republic. His predecessor, John Paul II, came to out country three times – in 1990, 1995, and 1997. However, Pope Benedict XVI visited then-Czechoslovakia as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – on Mar 30, 1992 he held a lecture in the Prague seminary on the topic "That God may be all in all: On the Christian faith in eternal life".

The visit of Pope Benedict XVI will be his 13th journey abroad. Preceding was the trip to the Holy Land in May. In Europe, Benedict XVI has visited five countries so far: Germany, Poland, Spain, Austria, and France.

Program of the Apostolic Visit of Pope Benedict XVI
to the Czech Republic on Sep 26-28, 2009

Saturday, Sep 26, 2009

Prague

11:30 am: Welcoming ceremony at Ruzyne airport; discourse of the Holy Father

12:30 pm: Visit of the church of Our Lady Victorious – Infant Jesus of Prague; discourse of the Holy Father

4:30 pm: Courtesy visit to the President of the Czech Republic at the Prague Castle

5:00 pm: Meeting with political leaders, social representatives and diplomatic corps at the Prague Castle; discourse of the Holy Father

6:00 pm: Vespers with priests, religious, seminarians and representatives of movements at the cathedral of Ss Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert; discourse of the Holy Father

Sunday, Sep 27, 2009

Brno

9:20 am: Arrival at Turany airport in Brno

10:00 am: Mass at the airport; homily of the Holy Father

After the Mass: Midday prayer of the Angelus; discourse of the Holy Father

12:45 pm: Departure to Prague

Prague

5:15 pm: Ecumenical meeting at the Archbishop's Palace; discourse of the Holy Father

6:00 pm: Meeting with academic world at the Prague Castle; discourse of the Holy Father

Monday, Sep 28, 2009

Stara Boleslav

8:50 am: Visit of the basilica of St Wenceslaus in Stara Boleslav

9:45 am: Mass on the occasion of the National Pilgrimage to St Wenceslaus; homily of the Holy Father

After the Mass: Message of the Holy Father to young people

Prague

1:15 pm: Lunch with Czech bishops at the Archbishop's Palace

4:45 pm: Departure from the Apostolic Nunciature

5:15 pm: Farewell ceremony at Ruzyne airport; discourse of the Holy Father

5:45 pm: Departure to Rome

More information: www.navstevapapeze.cz