Pope Benedict begins his vacation in northern Italy

Vatican City, Jul 28, 2008 / 09:50 am

On Monday morning, Pope Benedict XVI flew from Rome to northern Italy to begin a two week vacation in the town of Bressanone. The Vatican also announced the Pope’s schedule for the rest of summer today.

 

After landing in Bolzano, Italy at the "Dolomitas" airport the Pope took a car to Bressanone, a German-speaking town, where he will remain until August 11.

 

Pope Benedict will be staying in the seminary of Bressanone, a small city in which he vacationed numerous times between 1970 and 2004. He will be accompanied by his brother Georg Ratzinger, who is also a priest.

 

The pope is expected to devote some of his vacation time to his third encyclical on social issues as well as working on the second part of his book Jesus of Nazareth.

 

The praying of the Marian Angelus prayer will not be missed, despite the Pope being on vacation. On Sunday August 3 and Sunday August 10, Benedict XVI will preside at the praying of the Angelus in the cathedral square of Bressanone.

 

Wednesday August 13, two days after returning to his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father will resume his weekly general audiences.

 

Starting August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, the Pope will recite the Angelus from the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo on Sundays and Solemnities.