Next weekend, Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to be in Lebanon, where he will deliver the pastoral message that came out of the 2010 special Synod of Bishops, which was dedicated to Christians in the Middle East. He also will meet with representatives of local Christian and Muslim communities and address political and cultural leaders during the three-day visit, Sept. 14-16.
While preparations continue for the papal visit, much of the talk surrounds the possibility that the violence in Syria will worsen and force cancellations of the journey.
There is precedence for cancellation of a papal visit. In 1994, Pope John Paul II’s planned trip to Sarajevo was abruptly dropped because United Nations forces said they could not guarantee the safety of the pope.
But as far as we can ascertain, this trip is on, and program planners at The NET are continuing with special coverage for the event.
Leading up to the trip, NET is interviewing experts on the Middle East for their perspectives on the Church in Lebanon.
NET will air a 30-minute special that will be shown just prior to its live coverage from Beirut. Already taped is an interview with Msgr. James Root, rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral, Brooklyn Heights, as well as some of the parishioners, including an in-studio conversation with Bay Ridge businessman John Abi-Habib.
As the papal plane nears its destination, NET will pick up the live feed from Vatican Television. The Holy Father is scheduled to land at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Friday, Sept. 14, at 3:30 a.m., New York time. Yes, NET’s staff will be working through the night to bring all the action as it happens.
During that day, he plans to visit St. Paul’s Basilica in Harissa and witness the signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.
On Saturday, Sept. 15, beginning at 3 a.m. (N.Y.), the pope will pay a visit to the Presidential Palace of Baabda and also meet with members of the government, institutions of the Republic, the diplomatic corps, religious leaders and representatives of the world of culture.
At 11 a.m., he will meet with young people in the square across from the Maronite Patriarchate of Bkerké.
Finally, on Sunday, Sept. 16, at 3 a.m., the pope will celebrate at the Beirut City Center Waterfront, and he will preside at the presentation of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation for the Middle East. At the end of the Mass, Prayer of the Angelus Domini will be recited.
At 10:15 a.m., Pope Benedict will participate in an ecumenical meeting with the Syrian Catholic Patriarchate of Charfet.
The departure ceremony is set for 11:30 a.m. with lift-off of the papal plane at noon. He should land in Rome three hours and 40 minutes later.
Consult The NET’s schedule for the times and events that will be carried live. Liz Faublas, anchor for Currents, The NET’s daily news show, will host all coverage.
The NET can be seen on Ch. 30 of Cablevision and Ch. 97 of Time Warner.
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In case you haven’t sent in your question for Bishop DiMarzio’s weekly Friday appearance in Currents, do so today. Send your question to ewilkinson@diobrook.org or mail it to me at The Tablet, 1712 Tenth Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215.