Preparing The Papal Visit

As it has already been reported, Pope John Paul II plans to visit Ukraine this June. The visit’s program also includes a trip to Lviv. Now Ukraine and the Vatican are beginning practical preparations for the visit, forming special mixed lay-ecclesiastical commissions, correcting the program, itinerary, places where services will be celebrated, etc.

According to the Lviv oblast administration press service, Father Roberto Tucci, a Vatican official dealing with the organization of Pope John Paul II’s travels outside Italy for almost two decades, arrived in Lviv January 10 on a routine visit.

On January 10 Father Roberto met Stepan Senchuk, chairman of the Lviv Oblast State Administration. They discussed a number of problems connected with the Pope’s stay in Lviv. In particular, they approved the place of two Papal church services, the Lviv race course which Father Roberto visited on January 11. The two officials also discussed details concerning the stay and accommodations of the Pontiff’s party (about thirty persons) and foreign journalists (about fifty) who will cover His Holiness’s visit to Ukraine. It was decided at the meeting to open a press center in Lviv to deal with the accreditation of Ukrainian journalists. The center is to begin operations about a month before the visit.

Speaking to the governor, Father Roberto Tucci noted that the Pope’s visit to Ukraine can be compared only to his travels to Cuba and the Holy Land. In his turn, the chairman of the Lviv Oblast Administration reassured his interlocutor that the local authorities have not only the experience but also the ability to receive the Holy Father in Lviv at the highest level ever.