The finalized official schedule of the Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Francis to Sri Lanka, was released by Vatican today. The Pope is scheduled to visit the island from January 13-15, 2015.
The visit is taking place following an invitation extended to Pope Francis by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Last month, the President and First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa travelled to the Vatican where they received an audience with His Holiness and personally extended the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.
Pope Francis has graciously accepted the President’s invitation, and the Vatican subsequently confirmed that His Holiness will be visiting Sri Lanka in January 2015.
His Holiness will also preside over the canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz, the Apostle of Sri Lanka, as the first Saint of Sri Lanka.
Pope Paul VI and Pope Saint John Paul II visited Sri Lanka in 1970 and 1995.
APOSTOLIC JOURNEY of HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO SRI LANKA
12-15 JANUARY 2015
SCHEDULE
Monday, January 12, 2015
19:00 - Departure from the Airport of Rome/Fiumicino to Colombo
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
09:00 - Arrival at the Colombo International Airport, Katunayake
WELCOME CEREMONY
13:15 - MEETING with the Bishops of SRI LANKA at the Archbishop’s Hose, Colombo - 08
17:00 - COURTESY VISIT to the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka at the President’s House.
18:15 - INTERRELIGIOUS MEETING in the Bandaranayake Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) Colombo
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
08:30 - Celebration of Holy Eucharist and Canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz in Galle Face Green
Colombo
14:00 - Departure to Madhu Shrine
15:30 - MARIAN PRAYER at the Shrine of our Lady of Rosary of Madhu
16:45 - Departure to Colombo
Thursday, January 15, 2015
08:15 - Visit to the Chapel of the “Benedict XVI Cultural Institute” at Bolawalana
08:45 - Farewell ceremony at the Colombo International Airport, Katunayake
09:00 - Departure from Colombo to Manila
