Holy Calendar, Benedict!

Is it me or is the Pope's schedule suddenly a lot more interesting now that we Americans have been on it? Either way, I'm fascinated by the fact that he's got plenty to do leading up to the joyful bedlam awaiting him in Sydney come July.

MAY

* Saturday 3: Recitation of the Rosary at 6 p.m. in the Roman basilica of St. Mary Major.
* Sunday 11: Pentecost Sunday. Mass at 10 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica.
* Saturday 17 and Sunday 18: Pastoral visit to Savona and Genoa, Italy.
* Thursday 22:  Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Mass at 7 p.m. in the basilica of St. John Lateran, followed by a procession to the basilica of St. Mary Major for Eucharistic blessing.

JUNE

* Saturday 14 and Sunday 15:  Pastoral visit to Santa Maria di Leuca and Brindisi, Italy.
* Saturday 28:  At 6 p.m. in the Roman basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls, First Vespers for the solemn opening of the Pauline Year.
* Sunday 29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Mass at 9:30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica. Blessing and imposition of the pallium on metropolitan archbishops.

Meanwhile I have to believe that, somewhere in the back of his mind, he's thinking even further forward, beyond World Youth Day, to Castelgandolfo. He'll celebrate the Assumption there in a lower key come mid-August. And he'll relax on vacation, God willing.

That will be one well-earned break. Wouldn't you say?

-- DP