Official and pastoral visit of his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Cameroon (17 - 20 MARCH 2009)

PROGRAMME

Tuesday, 17 March 2009:

10.00 a.m. - Plane carrying the Holy Father takes off from Fiumicino International Airport (Rome).

2.00 p.m. - Plane carrying the Holy Father touches down at the Nsimalen International Airport (Yaounde).

WELCOME CEREMONY

Speech by the President of the Republic

Speech by the Holy Father

Presentation of Dignitaries

Wednesday, 18 March 2009:

10.00 a.m. Courtesy call by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on the President of the Republic at Unit y Palace

11.15a.m. Meeting with Cameroonian Bishops in the "Christ the King" Parish Church, Tsinga-Yaounde.

12.45 p.m. Lunch with Cameroonian Bishops and the Papal Delegation at the Apostolic Nunciature, Yaounde.

4.45 p.m. Celebration of Vespers with bishops, priests, monks, nuns, deacons, ecclesial movements and representatives of other Christian faiths in Cameroon at the "Mary Queen of Apostles" Basilica, Mvolye-Yaounde.

Thursday, 19 March 2009: Feast of Saint Joseph

8.45 a.m. Meeting with representatives of the Muslim Community of Cameroon at the Apostolic Nunciature, Yaounde.

10.00 a.m. Celebration of Holy Mass on the occasion of the publication of the Instrumentum Laboris of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops at the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium, in the presence of representatives of National Episcopal Conferences of Africa

4.30 p.m. Meeting with the sick at the Cardinal Paul Emile Leger Centre (National Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled).

6.30 p.m. Working session with members of the Special Council for Africa of the Synod of Bishops at the Apostolic Nunciature.

7.30 p.m. Dinner with members of the Special Council for Africa of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinals and Bishops in the Papal Delegation.

Friday 20 March 2009:

10.00 a.m. Farewell ceremony at the Nsimalen International Airport, Yaounde. Speech by the President of the Republic, Speech by the Pope

10.30 a.m. Plane carrying the Holy Father takes off from the Nsimalen International Airport for the Luanda International Airport.

Source : Presidency of the Republic