VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis’s sixth foreign trip of 2019 will take him to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, the Vatican announced.
The trip will include Masses and interreligious meetings at several locations as well as gatherings with political leaders, bishops, members of the clergy and young people.
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The Vatican released a full schedule for the trip Aug. 5, updating an itinerary published in late June. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses.
Wednesday, Sept. 4 (Rome-Maputo, Mozambique)
— 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)
— 9:45 a.m. (3:45 a.m.) Courtesy visit to the president at the Palacio da Ponta Vermelha, the official presidential residence.
— 10:15 a.m. (4:15 a.m.) Meeting with authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps at the Palacio da Ponta Vermelha. Speech by pope.
— 11 a.m. (5 a.m.) Interreligious meeting with young people at the Maxaquene Pavilion. Speech by pope.
— Lunch at the apostolic nunciature.
— 4:15 p.m. (10:15 a.m.) 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, Madagascar)
— 8:45 a.m. (2:45 a.m.) Visit to Zimpeto Hospital outside Maputo. Greeting by pope.
— 10 a.m. (4 a.m.) Mass in Zimpeto Stadium. Homily by pope.
— 12:25 p.m. (6:25 a.m.) 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)
— 9:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m.) Courtesy visit to the president in the Iavoloha Palace.
— 10:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m.) Meeting with government authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps in the Ceremony Building. Speech by pope.
— 11:15 a.m. (4:15 a.m.) Recitation of midday prayer in the Discalced Carmelite monastery. Homily by pope.
— Lunch in the apostolic nunciature.
— 4 p.m. (9 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of Madagascar in the Andohalo cathedral. Speech by pope.
— 5:10 p.m. (10:10 a.m.) Visit to the tomb of Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo.
— 6 p.m. (11 a.m.) Vigil with young people at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field. Speech by pope.
Sunday, Sept. 8 (Antananarivo)
— 10 a.m. (3 a.m.) Mass at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field. Homily by pope.
— Lunch with the papal entourage at the nunciature.
— 3:10 p.m. (8 a.m.) Visit to the Akamasoa “Community of Good Friends.” Greeting by the pope.
— 4 p.m. (9 a.m.) Prayer for workers at the Mahatzana building site. Prayer by pope.
— 5:10 p.m. (10:10 a.m.) Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians in the College of St. Michael. Speech by pope.
Monday, Sept. 9 (Antananarivo-Port Louis, Mauritius-Antananarivo)
— 7:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Departure by air for Port Louis.
— 10:40 a.m. (2:40 a.m.) Arrival ceremony at the Port Louis airport.
— 12:15 p.m. (4:15 a.m.) Mass at the monument to Mary, Queen of Peace. Homily by pope.
— Lunch with members of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean.
— 4:25 p.m. (8:25 a.m.) Private visit to the Shrine of Blessed Jacques-Desire Laval, the “apostle of Mauritus.”
— 4:55 p.m. (8:55 a.m.) Courtesy visit with the president in the presidential palace.
— 5:15 p.m. (9:15 a.m.) Meeting with the prime minister in the presidential palace.
— 5:40 p.m. (9:40 a.m.) Meeting with government authorities, civil society leaders and the diplomatic corps in the presidential palace. Speech by pope.
— 6:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m.) 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)
— 9 a.m. (2:00 a.m.) 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.
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