Pope readies end of Paul's year, start of Priests

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 1, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's agenda for the coming months includes the end of the Pauline Jubilee Year and the start of the Year for Priests, as well as his annual vacation and his 13th apostolic journey.

Additionally, it is rumored that this month will see the release of the Pope's third encyclical, this one dedicated to social issues.

The Vatican released today the Holy Father's itinerary through September of public liturgical celebrations and trips.

On June 11, the solemnity of Corpus Christi, he will follow tradition in celebrating a 7 p.m. Mass at St. John Lateran and then processing with the Blessed Sacrament to St. Mary Major.

That Friday, June 19, feast of the Sacred Heart, the Holy Father will open the Year for Priests with Vespers in St. Peter's Basilica.

On Sunday, June 21, he will make a one-day pastoral trip to the tomb of Padre Pio.

The next week, June 28, the Pontiff will close the Pauline Jubilee Year with Vespers celebrated at St. Paul's Outside the Walls.

He will close June with a public Mass for the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul on the 29th. That Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica and include the conferring of the pallium on new metropolitan archbishops.

June 29 is also the day that might bring the release of the new encyclical, according to the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Renato Martino.