NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

    VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- The Holy See has released a new calendar of the major papal events scheduled for the remainder of this calendar year.

    On September 19, the Holy Father will visit Slovenia, and on September 30 he will preside at the formal unveiling and blessing of the renovated façade of St. Peter's Basilica.

    On October 1, the Pope will officiate at the opening of the European Synod, and on October 23 he will preside at the closing ceremonies. On October 28 he will lead a special inter-religious encounter in St. Peter's Square which has been organized for the Jubilee.

    On November 1, the Pope will visit the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, to pray for his deceased predecessors on Peter's throne. His trip to India will begin on November 5, and he will return-- stopping for one day in the former Soviet republic of Georgia-- on November 9. On November 13 his schedule calls for an ecumenical Vespers service at the Vatican, and on November 21 he will celebrate the canonization of two newly proclaimed saints.

    On Christmas Eve, the Holy Father will solemnly open the "Holy Door" of the Vatican basilica, prior to the celebration of the midnight Mass of Christmas, thus formally opening the Jubilee Year. On Christmas Day he will bestow his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's, and that afternoon he will visit the Basilica of St. John Lateran to open the holy door there as well.

    On December 31, the Pope will close out the year at St. Peter's Basilica with solemn Vespers and a Te Deum, giving thanks for the blessings of the year, the decade, and the century. And at midnight he will pronounce a new "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, this time from the window of the Apostolic Palace. On January 1, he will open a third holy door at the Vatican: at the basilica of St. Mary Major.

Articles provided through Catholic World News and Church News at Noticias Eclesiales and International Dossiers, Daily Dispatches and Features at ZENIT International News Agency. CWN, NE and ZENIT are not affiliated with the Daily CATHOLIC but provide this service via e-mail to the Daily CATHOLIC Monday through Friday.