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Pope Benedict XVI spending 6 days in America

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  • Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting Washington and New York this week
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  • His itinerary includes the White House, Ground Zero and Yankee Stadium
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(CNN) -- Here is the itinerary of Pope Benedict XVI while in the United States this week. All times are Eastern Daylight Time. Sources: CNN, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

TUESDAY April 15, WASHINGTON

4 p.m. - Arrival at Andrews Air Force Base

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at Andrews Air Force Base. He is greeted by President George Bush and first lady Laura Bush. No public statements are anticipated. Dignitaries include:

• Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, vice president of the USCCB
• Msgr. David J. Malloy, general secretary of the USCCB
• Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio for the U.S.
• Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of Washington
• Bishop Francisco Gonzalez, auxiliary bishop of Washington
• Bishop Martin D. Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington
• Bishop Leonard J. Olivier, auxiliary bishop of Washington
• Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, archbishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA

WEDNESDAY APRIL 16, WASHINGTON

Pope Benedict XVI's 81st birthday

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Meeting with President Bush at the White House

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the White House. The welcome will be on the South Lawn of the White House before approximately 5,000 people. This is only the second time in history that a pontiff has visited the White House.

• 10:30 a.m. - Arrival of Pope Benedict XVI and South Lawn activities
• 11:15 a.m. - Pope Benedict XVI and President Bush meet for 45 minutes in private in the Oval Office
• 12 p.m. - Departure via popemobile - Parade route open to the general public. More information

5-7 p.m. - Vespers and address to U.S. bishops at the National Shrine

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and North America, and one of the 10 largest churches in the world. It is the nation's pre-eminent Marian shrine, dedicated to the patroness of the United States: the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception.

• 5:15 p.m. - Parade to the Basilica - beginning at 3211 4th St. NE. At end of route, popemobile travels the circle in front of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
• 5:20 p.m. - Arrival - Welcome by Msgr. Walter Rossi, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The crowd will form on the east side of the Shrine on the mall.
• 5:30 p.m. - Vespers in the Crypt (lower area of the Shrine) with the bishops of the United States. Vespers, also called Evening Prayer, is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office. In general, the format is as follows:
• Introductory verse
• Hymn
• Psalmody
• Scripture reading
• Responsory
• Gospel canticle: Canticle of Mary, also called the Magnificat
• Intercessions
• The Lord's Prayer
• Concluding prayer
• 6 p.m. - Address to the bishops by Pope Benedict XVI.
• 7 p.m. - Program ends.

THURSDAY APRIL 17, WASHINGTON

10 a.m. - Mass at Nationals Park

The pope will celebrate Mass at the new Nationals Park in Washington. This will be the first non-baseball event in the park, which opened March 31.

• 6 a.m. - Gates open; pre-Mass program begins
• 6:30 a.m. - Confessionals open
• 8:30 a.m. - The procession of clergy begins
• 9:30 a.m. - The pope arrives at the stadium
• 9:35 a.m. - The pope travels around the track inside the stadium in the popemobile
• 10 a.m. - Mass begins
• 12 p.m. - Mass ends; concession stands open
• 2 p.m. - All concession stands close

5 p.m. - Address to Catholic educators at The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America is the national university of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is the only papally chartered university in the United States and the only institution of higher learning sponsored by the nation's bishops. Pope John Paul II came to CUA on October 7, 1979, a year after he had become pontiff.

• 5 p.m. - Arrival and welcome via motorcade at east side of Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center. Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, Bishop William E. Lori, chairman of the CUA board of trustees, Father David O'Connell, CM, president of CUA will welcome the pope. Approximately, 4,000 CUA students, faculty and staff will greet the Holy Father outside.
• 5:15 p.m. - Pope Benedict XVI enters the hall. In the hall: 200 presidents of Catholic universities and colleges in the U.S., 195 directors or superintendents responsible for Catholic education (elementary and secondary schools) in each of the archdioceses or dioceses of the U.S., Board of trustees of CUA and selected administrators and representatives of CUA will greet Pope Benedict XVI. Father O'Connell will introduce 10 individuals to the pope and then the pope will give an address.
• 6:15 p.m. - Departure - The pope will enter the popemobile on the east (lower) side of the Przbyla Center and move through the campus of the Catholic University of America.

6:30 p.m. - Interreligious gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center

The pope will meet with representatives of other religions on the theme "Peace Our Hope." Construction on the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center began in 1997 on 12 acres adjacent to the Catholic University of America. Since its dedication in 2000, the Center has been the site of many interreligious discussions and events.

The pope will enter through the front door of the Center. Bishop Richard J. Sklba, chairman, USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, will welcome the pope along with an audience of some 220 individuals representing five religions: Buddhism, Hindu, Islam, Jainism and Judaism. Pope Benedict XVI will give an address. The Holy Father will then be presented with symbols of peace by five young people:

• Judaism: Menorah, presented by David J. Michaels, director for intercommunal affairs, Center for Human Rights and Public Policy at B'nai B'rith International.
• Islam: Quran, presented by Saman Hussain, coordinator, Unity Walk 2007.
• Jainism: Metallic cube, presented by Aditya Vora, a Jain young adult studying at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.
• Buddhism: Bell, presented by Masako Fukata, a youth leader of Rissho Kosei-kai, a socially engaged Buddhist organization headquartered in Tokyo.
• Hinduism: Sculpture of syllable Om by Dr. Ravi Gupta, assistant professor of religion, Centre College, Danville, Kentucky.

A greeting of interreligious leaders will be followed by a song: "Peace Prayer," attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, sung by a schola cantorum.

FRIDAY APRIL 18, NEW YORK

8:30-10 a.m. - Travel to New York

• 8:30 a.m. - Departure from Andrews Air Force Base.
• 9:45 a.m. - Arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport (Diocese of Brooklyn). Cardinal Edward M. Egan, archbishop of New York and Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio, bishop of Brooklyn will welcome Pope Benedict. Two school children will present flowers to the pope: Kaitlin Karcher, eighth-grader at Our Lady of Grace School, Gravesend, Brooklyn, and Christopher Jordan, fifth-grader at Divine Mercy Catholic Academy, Ozone Park, Queens. Dignitaries include:
• Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations
• Bishop William F. Murphy, bishop of Rockville Centre
• Bishop Gregory John Mansour, eparch of Saint Maron of Brooklyn for Maronites
• Bishop Manuel Batakian, eparch of Our Lady of Nareg in New York for Armenian Catholics
• Bishop Thomas V. Daily, bishop emeritus of Brooklyn
• State and local government representatives

10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. - Address to the United Nations at the United Nations

During his scheduled three-hour visit to U.N. Headquarters, the pope will also meet with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim and Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency this month. The visit will fall on the first anniversary of Ban's visit to the Vatican, when the secretary-general then invited the pope to come to the U.N. It is the fourth papal visit to the U.N. following those of Paul VI in 1965 and John Paul II in 1979 and 1995. Following the address, pope travels by motorcade to the Residence of the Permanent Observer to the United Nations at 1:45 p.m.

5:20 p.m. - Park East Synagogue, East 67th Street

Pope Benedict XVI plans a brief visit to the Park East Synagogue, according to The Associated Press. It will be the second time he's visited a synagogue as pontiff since being elected pope in 2005. On his first trip abroad as pontiff in 2005, Benedict visited a synagogue in Cologne, Germany. According to its Web site, Park East Synagogue -- founded in 1888, with its cornerstone laid in 1889 -- is an historic New York City landmark house of worship and one of the nation's leading modern Orthodox congregations. It plays a vital role in the cultural, civic and spiritual life of New York City. Rabbi Arthur Schneier is from Budapest, Hungary, lived under Nazi occupation and came to the United States in 1947.

6 p.m. - Ecumenical prayer service, Saint Joseph Parish

Saint Joseph Parish, 404 E. 87th Street, Yorkville, was founded in 1873 to meet the needs of German immigrants. The parish grew out of a community worshiping in the chapel of Saint Joseph's Orphanage, established on the Upper East Side.

Greeting by Cardinal Edward M. Egan and Msgr. John Sullivan, administrator of Saint Joseph Parish. Inside an audience of 250 Protestant and Orthodox leaders and 50 Catholics involved in ecumenical efforts. Program:

• The pope proceeds to the papal chair, in front of the altar
• Cardinal Egan sits to his right. Already in place is Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan, vicar general for the archdiocese, to the pope's left
• Bishop Dennis J. Sullivan greets the pope
• Opening hymn: "Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether," text by Percy Dearmer; music by Harold Friedell
• Prayer and Scripture reading (Ephesians 4:1-6)
• Address: Pope Benedict XVI
• The Lord's Prayer
• Final blessing and hymn: "Now Thank We All Our God," music by Johann Crüger

SATURDAY APRIL 19, NEW YORK

Third Anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's Pontificate

9-11:15 a.m. - Mass for clergy and religious at Saint Patrick's Cathedral

Saint Patrick's Cathedral is the seat of the archbishop of New York, Cardinal Edward M. Egan. It is the largest decorated gothic-style Catholic cathedral in the United States and has been recognized throughout its history as a center of Catholic life in this country.

• 9 a.m. - Arrival and welcome at main entrance of Cathedral. The pope will be welcomed by Cardinal Edward M. Egan and Msgr. Robert Ritchie, Cathedral rector. Participating in the Mass will be 3,000 deacons, priests and religious men and women from throughout the United States. At least two representatives from each diocese in the country will be present.
• 9:15 a.m. - Mass begins
• 11:15 a.m. - Mass concludes

4:30 p.m. - Blessing of youth with disabilities at Saint Joseph Seminary

On May 17, 1891, Archbishop Michael J. Corrigan laid the cornerstone of the present Saint Joseph Seminary in the Dunwoodie section of Yonkers, just a few miles north of New York City. The first scholastic year began September 21, 1896, with 98 students. The institution now serves men in formation for the priesthood; it has programs for those studying to become permanent deacons and a master of arts in religious studies for lay and clergy. Pope John Paul II visited on October 5, 1995.

The pope arrives via motorcade at the front of main seminary building. Cardinal Edward M. Egan and Bishop Gerald T. Walsh, rector of the seminary welcome the pope. The pope will enter the seminary and proceed forward to the chapel sanctuary. In the audience approximately 50 young people with disabilities and their caregivers. Program:

• Greeting and presentation
• The pope blesses those present
• The Archdiocesan Deaf Choir performs
• The pope departs out the front door of the Seminary to enter the popemobile
• Popemobile route: Popemobile will travel the circle in front of the seminary and proceed west to the "Lower Chidwick" and circle the field

5-6:30 p.m. - Rally with seminarians and young people at Saint Joseph Seminary

Approximately 25,000 young Catholics from throughout the United States, including 5,000 seminarians will be in attendance at Saint Joseph Seminary, 201 Seminary Avenue, Yonkers.

• 12 p.m. - Concert begins. Concert activity ceases when the pope arrives at seminary for the meeting with youth with disabilities. That meeting inside the chapel will be shown on screens to the rally crowd.
• 5 p.m. - Arrival, welcome, and rally

• The pope arrives via popemobile at the rally stage
• Cardinal Edward M. Egan makes opening remarks
• Three youth speak
• 10 youth present gifts of dark bread, light bread, rice, unleavened bread and maize, representing the five continents|
• Eight youth present birthday gifts to the pope. They include the following: a spiritual bouquet; the book "Empire State Catholics: A History of the Catholic Community in New York State;" and images of six individuals who were born in or served in New York and have been declared saints, blessed or venerable by the Catholic Church: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Neumann, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint and Padre Felix Varela
• Address: Pope Benedict XVI
• Cardinal Edward M. Egan presents 15 young people to the pope for a personal greeting
• The pope blesses the crowd and departs to the popemobile, which takes him back to the motorcade in front of the seminary

• 6:30 p.m. - Rally concludes

SUNDAY APRIL 20, NEW YORK

9:30 a.m. - Visit to Ground Zero, site of the former World Trade Center

The pope will visit the site of the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center, offer a blessing and greet representatives of the Port Authority, New York fire and police workers, those who survived the attacks, and family members who lost loved ones in the attack. Program:

• The pope arrives via motorcade. A welcome by Cardinal Edward M. Egan.
• The motorcade travels down the ramp. The pope and Cardinal Edward M. Egan leave the limousine and walk the remaining route alone
• The pope kneels before a pool of water and candle, offering a silent prayer
• The pope lights the candle, offers a prayer and blesses the ground and the guests with holy water
• Guests approach the pope individually for a brief exchange

2:30 p.m. - Mass at Yankee Stadium

The 200th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's designation as an archdiocese (the nation's first), as well as the birth of four other archdioceses: New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Bardstown (now Louisville) will be highlighted during the Mass.

• 9 a.m. - Gates open
• 12 p.m. - The pre-Mass concert begins
• 2:15 p.m. - The pope arrives
• 2:20 p.m. - The pope travels around the track inside the stadium in the popemobile
• 2:30 p.m. - Mass begins
• 5 p.m. - Mass ends

8-8:30 p.m. - Departure from John F. Kennedy International Airport

Approximately 3,250 guests will bid farewell to the pope in Hangar 19 of JFK airport.

• 8 p.m. - The pope arrives via motorcade. Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio, bishop of Brooklyn, gives a welcome. Dignitaries include:

• Cardinal Edward M. Egan, archbishop of New York
• Bishop William F. Murphy, bishop of Rockville Centre
• Bishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the U.S.
• Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations
• Representative of the president of the United States
• Representatives of state and local governments

Program includes:

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• Address by President Bush's representative
• Farewell by Pope Benedict XVI
• Presentation by Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio and schoolchildren

• 8:30 p.m. - Departure via Shepherd One
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