US Papal Trip Confirmed. Here are Some Details

Well the Pope is coming to the good ole USA. On his 81st birthday to boot. I hope we American Catholics can give him a happy one. It should also be noted that this visit is occurring right smack dab in the middle of a major US election. Something that in the past the Vatican has gone to pains to avoid as to Papal US Trips.

Whispers in the Loggia has the details at "Peter Among Us": PopeTrip '08 Confirmed . It will occur 15-20 April of next year. Here is an excerpt:
To brief, an official reception at the White House, meeting with the US bishops, Mass at Nationals Stadium and visit to the Catholic University of America make up the Benedict's Washington leg. Then, after his UN address and an ecumenical/interreligious encounter on 18 April, the Pope will say Mass the following morning in St Patrick's Cathedral, attend a youth gathering on the grounds of St Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie; make a Sunday morning visit to Ground Zero and celebrate a closing liturgy at Yankee Stadium, all in New York."The Pope will not travel much," his representative to the States said. But even so, Benedict "will address himself to the people of the United States and the whole Catholic church." Although the pontiff will only be visiting one of the celebrating dioceses, Sambi said that the visit's prime purpose is to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the elevation of Baltimore to archiepiscopal rank and the erection of new dioceses at New York, Boston, Bardstown and Philadelphia. The nuncio added that another goal of the visit would be to invite fallen-away Catholics back to the life of the church.

I must say I am a tad disappointed with the Washington Liturgy being at Nationals Stadium. I know that Stadiums are good for Logistics. However I was really hoping for a Mass on the National Mall. If he is speaking to all US Catholics I can not think of a better place.

I also think it would be a stunning visual reminder with the most well known Monument to our "Civic religion"(as some call it) in the background that faith and YES THE CATHOLIC Faith have a place in the public square. Plus if it was the National Mall I would be more likely to attend since I doubt I am going to be able to get tickets for the Nationals Stadium event