Papal visits in 2008

The pope will make his first visit to the US from April 15 to 20, visiting Washington and New York. In mid-July, he will go to Australia for the World Youth Day organized in Sydney.
Furthermore, Benedict XVI told a journalist from I.Media press agency on January 19, that he would visit France in September. Vatican sources indicate that this visit will take place in mid-September, probably around September 13 and 14, but they stress the fact that the stopping places and the dates are not yet decided upon. However, it may be supposed that during this first visit to France, Benedict XVI will go to Lourdes to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin, and that he will probably go to Paris where he has been officially invited by President Nicolas Sarkozy when the latter was in to Rome last December 20.
For the pope’s pilgrimage to Lourdes, the date of September 12, the day when the Church celebrates the Holy Name of Mary, or September 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows have been put forward. (Sources: Apic/I.Media)