Education Is One Focus of Pope Benedict’s U.S. Visit

Pope Benedict XVI will devote part of this forthcoming visit to the United States to education. The pope is scheduled to make his first visit to the United States as pontiff April 15 to 20. He will meet with Catholic education leaders in Washington, D.C., and with Catholic youth in New York.

On April 16, the pope will meet with President George Bush at the White House and later meet U.S. bishops at the Basilica of the Nation Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. On April 17, following a public Mass at the Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C., he will meet at The Catholic University of America with presidents of Catholic colleges and universities and the highest ranking individual from each diocese responsible for Catholic education. Following that meeting he will meet with representatives of other religions at the John Paul II Culture Center on the campus of the university.

The following day, April 18, he will fly to New York City for an address to the United Nations and a meeting with ecumenical leaders.

On April 19, the pontiff will celebrate Mass for priests, deacons and members of religious orders at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and meet with young Catholics at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers.

On April 20, following a visit to the site of the World Trade Center and a Mass in Yankee Stadium, Pope Benedicts will return to Rome.

Because of tight security, all events are by invitation only.

The Catholic University of America, host to the higher education meeting, is the national university of the Catholic Church. It is the only papally chartered university in the United States and the only institution of higher learning sponsored by the nation’s bishops.

Reprinted from Momentum Magazine, February/March 2008 issue