NEWSLETTER No. 3 p.1/3 Friday, 25 July 2008 …LATEST NEWS AND INFORMATION…

 Many of the faithful, both in and abroad, are preparing for Pope Benoit XVI’s visit to France

Groups will be arriving from dioceses across France, particularly the western and northern regions, as well as Alsace, Bourgogne and Franche-Comté for the Holy Father’s visit to . There will also be international groups, notably from Belgium and Germany. Most of these delegations plan to arrive by coach, but some others, like those from the dioceses of Rennes and Nantes, will arrive by chartered train.

On the afternoon of Saturday, 13 September, a specially commissioned Paris-Lourdes train will transport those pilgrims who wish to follow the Pope to the Marial city. (www.papeaparis.org ).

For the Lourdes leg of the papal visit, groups of pilgrims will be arriving from dioceses in mainland France (Aire-et-Dax, Angoulême, Autun, Montauban, Luçon, Marseilles, Montpellier, Poitiers, Pontoise, Quimper, Rennes, Toulouse, Toulon, etc.), French Overseas Departments and from abroad: Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, USA, UK, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, etc.

All generations will be represented among the many faithful preparing to travel to Paris and Lourdes, particularly the young, who will travel with families, scout troops, groups of altar servers and acolytes, schools, college or university chaplaincies or with pastoral youth groups from their parish or diocese.

Members of lay movements and associations, new communities (including the Charismatic Renewal), religious orders, monks and nuns will also join celebrations in Paris and Lourdes.

 Adoramus Te , the Youth Festival celebrating the Pope’s visit to Lourdes

Three vigils will be held for young people during the Papal visit to Lourdes:

- On Friday, 12 September, a vigil-concert will be held by young people from the Emmanuel Community (in the Padre Pio Hall, Cité Saint-Pierre) from 9 p.m. onwards;

- On Saturday, 13 September, a large vigil of adoration will be held for young people from 11 p.m. onwards. Catechesis by Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyon, based on the Pope’s address to the youth and followed by a period of Eucharistic Communications Manager for the Pope’s visit: Jean-Pierre Chaussade Press contact in Paris: +33 ( 0)1 56 56 44 20, [email protected] Press contact in Lourdes: +33 (0)5 62 42 78 01, [email protected] Press contact for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of France: +33 (0)1 72 36 68 41, [email protected]

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Adoration. The vigil will be run by the young people from the Emmanuel Community in collaboration with the Saint-Jean Community (Cité Saint-Pierre).

- On Sunday, 14 September, the Saint-Jean Community will hold a vigil-concert (Padre Pio Hall, Cité Saint-Pierre) from 9 p.m. onwards.

Direct link to Lourdes Jubilee 2008 newsletters: Newsletters jubilé 2008

 Behind the scenes…

Preparation of the Esplanade des Invalides for Mass on 13 th September The task of organising the site layout, from the Esplanade des Invalides – near the seine – to the podium – near the Invalides buildings – for Mass on Saturday, 13 September, was entrusted to Jean-Marie Duthilleul and Benoît Ferré. These architects specialise in cathedral choir design (Paris, Strasbourg, etc.). They also produced the podium at Longchamp for 1997 in Paris, and the Paris Toussaint Cross in 2004.

The Pope will celebrate Mass together with nearly one thousand bishops and priests. The event is expected to attract around 250,000 people. The Esplanade des Invalides will be transformed into a liturgical space reminiscent of a church. The faithful will be spread out along the esplanade in square formations, creating corridors that lead towards the podium. The esplanade’s layout will be in keeping with the military architecture of the Invalides.

At the foot of the choir, formed by the podium, 12 olive trees will be planted as symbols of Peace. A series of steps and gentle slopes will lead to the altar, behind which will be the papal throne. The podium will be made of light-coloured wood and covered by a white canvas canopy.

The architects also designed the liturgical furniture, which was built by the apprentices of several Fondation d’Auteuil institutions. The construction of this furniture, which comprises the altar, ambo (for readings) and seats, is currently being carried out in the Saint-Philippe workshop in Meudon (French départment 92). The papal seat, made of sycamore and rosewood, was crafted at the Saint-Jean joinery workshop in Sannois (départment 95). It has already been completed and is currently on exhibition at the head office of the Fondation d’Auteuil , 40, rue Jean de La Fontaine, in Paris’s 16 th district.

The twelve olive trees and flowers in front of the podium will be planted by the apprentices of the Saint-Philippe (Meudon) and Saint-Antoine de Marcoussis (départment 91) institutions.

Web portal for the Pope’s visit to France: www.pape-france.org

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The Fondation d’Auteuil shelters, educates, trains and aids the social insertion of more than 10,000 young people with serious social, educational, family and emotional difficulties, in 170 establishments in France. These young people have been sent by their families or child protection agencies. A personalised programme is drawn up for each one in order to develop his/her social skills as well as professional capabilities in the vocational area of his/her choice.

 Upcoming press conferences on the Papal visit to France

Friday, 15 August, Lourdes (11.15 a.m. – The small podium on the Prairie, or in the Sainte-Bernadette Hemicycle if it rains): press conference with Cardinal André Vingt- Trois, Archbishop of Paris, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of France , and Mgr Jacques Perrier, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes.

Monday, 8 September, Paris (11.30 a.m. - Maison de la Conférence des évêques de France , 58 av. de Breteuil, Paris 7th district): press conference with Cardinal André Vingt-Trois.

Link to newsletters on the Pope’s visit to France: Papal visit newsletters.

 Accreditations

Journalists who have requested accreditation will receive an information bulletin from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August confirming or denying their request. They will also be told how to collect their badges.

For those who have not yet submitted their requests, please note that the deadline set by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is 31 July 2008 . The accreditation application must be made online to the Ministry. To access the online application form, click on the following link: online accreditation application form .

 Special press access and technical requests

Journalists who have applied for special access or made technical requests will be contacted in the upcoming weeks by TVRS and/or our teams.

Applications for access to reserved sites (journalists’ areas at the celebration venues), applications for access to the photo/video pools and technical requests (in the press centre and at the celebration venues), must be made once accreditation has been applied for, and by 1st August 2008 at the latest.

Web portal for the Pope’s visit to France: www.pape-france.org

These applications must be made online on the special internet portal for the Pope’s visit to France. To access the online application form, click on the following link: access and technical application.

Web portal for the Pope’s visit to France: www.pape-france.org