Vatican revises schedule for Pope Francis' visit to Africa Sept. 4-10

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis’s sixth foreign trip of 2019 will take him to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius Sept. 4-10, the Vatican announced.

The trip will include Masses and interreligious meetings at several locations as well as gatherings with political leaders, bishops, members of the clergy and young people.

The Vatican released a full schedule for the trip Aug. 5, updating an itinerary published in late June. Times listed are local, with Eastern Daylight Time in parentheses.

Wednesday, Sept. 4 (Rome-Maputo, Mozambique)

-- 8 a.m. (2 a.m.) Departure from Rome’s Fiumicino airport.

-- 6:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m.) Arrival at Maputo airport. Welcome ceremony.

Thursday, Sept. 5 (Maputo)

-- 9:45 a.m. (3:45 a.m.) Courtesy visit to the president at the Palacio da Ponta Vermelha, the official presidential residence.

-- 10:15 a.m. (4:15 a.m.) Meeting with authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps at the Palacio da Ponta Vermelha. Speech by pope.

-- 11 a.m. (5 a.m.) Interreligious meeting with young people at the Maxaquene Pavilion. Speech by pope.

-- Lunch at the apostolic nunciature.

-- 4:15 p.m. (10:15 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops, priests, religious, seminarians and catechists at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Speech by pope.

Friday, Sept. 6 (Maputo-Antananarivo, Madagascar)

-- 8:45 a.m. (2:45 a.m.) Visit to Zimpeto Hospital outside Maputo. Greeting by pope.

-- 10 a.m. (4 a.m.) Mass in Zimpeto Stadium. Homily by pope.

-- 12:25 p.m. (6:25 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at Maputo airport.

--12:40 p.m. (6:40 a.m.) Departure from Maputo for Antananarivo, Madagascar.

-- 4:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Arrival ceremony at Antananarivo airport.

Saturday, Sept. 7 (Antananarivo)

-- 9:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m.) Courtesy visit to the president in the Iavoloha Palace.

-- 10:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m.) Meeting with government authorities, leaders of civil society and the diplomatic corps in the Ceremony Building. Speech by pope.

-- 11:15 a.m. (4:15 a.m.) Recitation of midday prayer in the Discalced Carmelite monastery. Homily by pope.

-- Lunch in the apostolic nunciature.

-- 4 p.m. (9 a.m.) Meeting with the bishops of Madagascar in the Andohalo cathedral. Speech by pope.

-- 5:10 p.m. (10:10 a.m.) Visit to the tomb of Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo.

-- 6 p.m. (11 a.m.) Vigil with young people at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field. Speech by pope.

Sunday, Sept. 8 (Antananarivo)

-- 10 a.m. (3 a.m.) Mass at the Soamandrakizay diocesan field. Homily by pope.

-- Lunch with the papal entourage at the nunciature.

-- 3:10 p.m. (8 a.m.) Visit to the Akamasoa “Community of Good Friends.” Greeting by the pope.

-- 4 p.m. (9 a.m.) Prayer for workers at the Mahatzana building site. Prayer by pope.

-- 5:10 p.m. (10:10 a.m.) Meeting with priests, religious and seminarians in the College of St. Michael. Speech by pope.

Monday, Sept. 9 (Antananarivo-Port Louis, Mauritius-Antananarivo)

-- 7:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Departure by air for Port Louis.

-- 10:40 a.m. (2:40 a.m.) Arrival ceremony at the Port Louis airport.

-- 12:15 p.m. (4:15 a.m.) Mass at the monument to Mary, Queen of Peace. Homily by pope.

-- Lunch with members of the Episcopal Conference of the Indian Ocean.

-- 4:25 p.m. (8:25 a.m.) Private visit to the Shrine of Blessed Jacques-Desire Laval, the “apostle of Mauritus.”

-- 4:55 p.m. (8:55 a.m.) Courtesy visit with the president in the presidential palace.

-- 5:15 p.m. (9:15 a.m.) Meeting with the prime minister in the presidential palace.

-- 5:40 p.m. (9:40 a.m.) Meeting with government authorities, civil society leaders and the diplomatic corps in the presidential palace. Speech by pope.

-- 6:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at the Port Louis airport.

-- 7 p.m. (11 a.m.) Departure by air to Antananarivo.

-- 8 p.m. (1 p.m.) Arrival at Antananarivo airport.

Tuesday, Sept. 10 (Antananarivo-Rome)

-- 9 a.m. (2:00 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at the Antananarivo airport.

-- 9:20 a.m. (2:20 a.m.) Departure for Rome.

-- 7 p.m. (1 p.m.) Arrival at Rome’s Ciampino airport.