Papal trip to Poland could come sooner than expected

Warsaw, Poland, Dec 8, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The Polish news agency PAP quoted Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow this week as saying Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to Poland next year may take place sooner than expected.

Although the Holy See has not officially confirmed the visit, Polish media had reported that the Pope would visit Poland in June.  Pope Benedict himself, during an interview on Polish television, stated he intended to visit the homeland of his predecessor.

According to PAP, the visit could take place in May of 2006 rather than in June, in order not to coincide with the World Soccer Cup, which is slated to begin June 9 and will feature the Polish team among the competitors.