Valle d'Aosta, Italy, Jul 18, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Quick, what’s the fifth country to be visited by Pope Benedict XVI during his Pontificate? The correct answer is now Switzerland. After setting foot outside the Vatican to visit Italy, Germany, Poland, and Spain the Holy Father reportedly made a surprise visit to Switzerland, yesterday.
According to Swiss newspaper, Tagesschau, Pope Benedict XVI, who is undertaking a brief vacation period in the northern Italian area of Les Combes until July 28th, has paid a brief visit to the region of Wallis in Switzerland.
The newspaper said that the visit to Swiss territory was so sudden that the President of the county, Moritz Leuenberger, could only send a welcome message, in which he recalled a previous meeting with the Pope.
“Your Holiness, welcome to Switzerland. I hope that you will enjoy being among us, as much as I felt upon my visit to you. With heartfelt wishes, Moritz Leuenberger, President of Switzerland,” the text said.