Pastoral visit of Pope Francis to Azerbaijan – 2016
Definitive programme of the Pope’s apostolic trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan
The following is th
e definitive programme of the Holy Father’s Apostolic trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan that is scheduled on 30th September to 2nd October.
The Pope leaves from Rome Fiumicino airport at 9 a.m., and is scheduled to arrive at Tbilisi international airport at 3 p.m., where the welcome ceremony will be held. Following a courtesy visit to the president of the Republic in the presidential palace, and a dialogue with the civil authorities and diplomatic corps in the courtyard, the Holy Father will meet with His Holiness and Beatitude Ilia II, Catholicos and Patriarch of all Georgia, in the Palace of the Patriarchate. His first day in Georgia will conclude with a meeting with the Assyrian-Chaldean community in the Chaldean Catholic Church of St. Shemon Bar Sabbae.
On Saturday, 1st October, Pope will celebrate the Holy Mass in the M. Meskhi stadium, followed by a meeting with priests and religious men and women in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. He will then meet with the charity workers of the Church and with those who assist outside the Camillian aid centre, followed by a visit to the Svetitskhoveli Patriarchal Cathedral of Mskheta.
In the morning of Sunday, 2 October, after the farewell ceremony at the airport in Tbilisi, the Holy Father will depart by air for Baku, Azerbaijan at 8:10 am.
2nd October 2016, Pope’s Visit to Azerbaijan
9:30 Official welcome at the Heydar Aliyev International airport
10:30 Solemn Eucharist celebration at the Immaculate Conception Church in Baku
12:45 lunch with the Salesian community
15:30 the protocol welcome ceremony in the presidential palace of Ganjlik and courtesy visit to the President of the Republic.
16:30 visit to the monument of the victims of independence
17:00 meeting with the authorities in the Heydar Aliyev Centre
17:45 private meeting with the Sheikh of the Muslims of the Caucasus in the Heydar Aliyev Mosque.
18:00 Interreligious dialogue with the representatives of the country’s other religious communities.
19:00 the farewell ceremony
19:15 departure for Rome
22:00 arrives at Rome
***
the 20th of July, 2016
On Monday, June 11, 2016, the Vatican has officially confirmed the information announced in the beginning of April the impending visit of the Holy Father Francis and adopted a specific program of his pastoral visit to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Friday, 30th of September 2016 – Saturday, 1st of October 2016
Pastoral visit to Georgia
Program: Meeting with the Authorities, the Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps, with Ilia II, Catholicos and Patriarch of All Georgia, with the Assyrian-Chaldean Community, with Priests, Religious men and women, with people assisted and operators of the Assistance Centre of the Camillian Order and also Holy Mass at M. Meskhi Stadium and Visit to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Mskheta.
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Pastoral visit to Azerbaijan
08:10 Departure by plane for Baku
09:30 Arrival at “Heydar Aliyev” International Airport of Baku
Official welcome
Holy Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Baku
Lunch with the Salesian Community and the Papal Entourage
Welcoming Protocol Ceremony in the Square of the Presidential Palace in Genclik
Courtesy visit to the President of the Republic at the Presidential Palace in Genclik
Meeting with the Authorities at “Heydar Aliyev” Centre
Private meeting with the Sheikh of the Caucasus Muslims at “Heydar Aliyev” Mosque
Meeting with Orthodox Bishop of Baku and with the President of the Jewish Community
Farewell ceremony at the Airport of Baku
19:15 Departure by plane for Rome
22:00 Arrival at Ciampino Airport in Rome