As of the time that this issue of The BCW went to print, following is Metropolitan Archbishop William’s fulfilled and expected itinerary and participation in the events during His Holiness Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to the U.S.:
Wednesday Sept. 23 – Washington, D.C.
Archbishop William participated in the 11:15 a.m. meeting of the Holy Father with the bishops of the United States at St. Matthew Cathedral.
Archbishop William participated in the Mass of the Canonization of Father Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, 4:15 p.m.
Thursday Sept. 24 – Archbishop William and a number of other bishops traveled by train to Philadelphia. He will not travel to the New York papal activities.
By special invitation, Father Thomas Schaefer, pastor and administrator of St. John Chrysostom Church, Greenfield/Pittsburgh and St. John the Baptist Church, South Side/Pittsburgh will participate in both the Vespers Prayer Service Thursday Sept. 24 at St. Patrick Cathedral and the Sept. 25 evening Mass at Madison Square Garden with the Holy Father in New York.
Saturday/Sunday Sept. 26/27 – Philadelphia, Pa.
Among other activities associated with the World Meeting of Families, Archbishop William will meet again with the Holy Father and brother bishops at St. Martin Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary on Sunday morning, and later that afternoon will participate in the Mass for the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Archbishop William will return to Pittsburgh on Monday Sept. 28 and leave Wednesday Sept. 30 for the Synod of Bishops XIV Ordinary General Assembly – The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World – in Rome
