The Pope will spend around nine hours in Verona on Saturday 18 May, the eve of Pentecost, on a visit dedicated to the theme “Justice and peace will kiss”, taken from Psalm 85. Francis will therefore return to Veneto in less than a month away after the visit to Venice yesterday, April 28th, which saw him arrive in Veneto for the first time. Verona is a land, its bishop Domenico Pompili had the opportunity to say, speaking of the Pope’s arrival, “a crossroads of peoples, of dialogue in which discussion and, especially in these difficult times, peace can flourish”.
Priests, consecrated people, young people and children
Francis, as indicated by the program released today by the Holy See Press Office – at the same time as the announcement of the visit was communicated by Bishop Domenico Pompili from Verona – will take off from the Vatican heliport at 6.30 am on May 18th to land in the square adjacent to the Bentegodi Stadium in Verona at 8.00. The main religious and political officials of the city and the region will be waiting for him: in addition to Bishop Pompili, also Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto Region, Demetrio Martino and Damiano Tommasi, prefect and mayor of the city of Verona. Immediately after arrival there will be a transfer to the Basilica of San Zeno for the meeting with the priests and consecrated persons in front of whom Francis will give his first speech. Subsequently, in the square of the same name in front of the church, waiting for the Pope there will be children and young people to whom the Pontiff will address a greeting.
The meeting on peace and the one with the prisoners
The Pope is expected to arrive at the Arena at 10.15am where the Pope will preside over the meeting «Arena of Peace – Justice and Peace will kiss», during which he will answer some questions. Once the meeting is over, Francesco will reach the Montorio prison by car, where he will be welcomed by the director Francesca Gioieni, the director of the penitentiary police, Mario Piramide and where he will greet the penitentiary police officers, the inmates and the volunteers to whom he will address a speech. Immediately after lunch with the inmates, at 2.30 pm, Francesco will leave the prison to travel by car to the Bentegodi Stadium to preside over the Mass at 3.00 pm. Departure at 4.45pm for the return to the Vatican, scheduled for 6.15pm.
Vatican News
