Pope in Naples on May 8: Full program of visit

Anticipation is growing for the8st May, when Pope Leo XIV will be Naples for a pastoral visit which will bring the Pontiff to the heart of the city and its archdiocese.

For Naples, the presence of a Pope is never an ordinary event: it is a moment that draws the faithful, institutions, and communities, rekindling the profound bond between the city and the Church that has accompanied papal visits over time. The streets, squares, and symbolic places thus become part of an event that goes beyond the official calendar, because it speaks to religious and civil history of a city accustomed to experiencing these events with participation and anticipation.

A brief program of Pope Leo XIV's visit to Naples

• 15.00 – Departure by helicopter from Pompei to Naples.
• 15.15 – I arrive at the Round Diaz and reception by ecclesiastical and institutional authorities.
• 15.45 – Arrival in cathedral for the meeting with the clergy , consecrated life.
• Next – Stop in the Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro for the 'adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Next up – Moment to thehigh altar, where they will be exhibited bust and reliquary with the ampoules of the Blood of San Gennaro.
• To follow – Prayer, listening to the Gospel, speech of the Pope and apostolic blessing.
• 16.45 – Departure from cathedral to piazza del Plebiscito.
• 17.15 – Arrival in piazza del Plebiscito and greeting to the faithful.
• 17.20 – Entrance into basilica for the greeting to the community of Minims and to some authorities.
• 17.30 – Meeting with the city ​​of Naples, with greetings, testimonies, music, young people from the diocese and a speech by the Pope.
• To follow – Act of entrustment to the Virgin Mary in front of the image of theImmaculate Conception by Don Placido Baccher.
• To follow – Apostolic blessing conclusive.
• 18.30 – Departure from piazza del Plebiscito towards the Round Diaz.
• 18.45 – Departure by helicopter and return to the Vatican.

Let's take a closer look at each appointment.

The arrival at the Diaz roundabout

The first contact of Pope Leo XIV with Naples will happen at Round Diaz, where the Pope's helicopter will land at 15.15It will be from there that the Neapolitan afternoon of the pastoral visit will take shape, with a welcome that will unite the ecclesial and institutional dimensions.
Representatives of the Church of Naples and Campania region, from the Common and Prefecture, in a passage that will mark the official entrance of the Pontiff into the city.

He will be welcomed by:

• Cardinal Domenico BattagliaMetropolitan Archbishop of Naples
• Roberto Fico, President of the Campania Region
• Gaetano Manfredi, mayor of Naples
• Michele Di Bari, prefect of Naples

The meeting in the cathedral with the clergy

All 15.45 the heart of the visit will move to the Naples Cathedral, Where Pope Leo XIV will meet the clergy , consecrated lifeIt will be one of the central moments of the afternoon, because it will take the Pope into one of the places most closely linked to the faith of the city and to the cult of San Gennaro.
On the cathedral square you will also find a group of children ready to welcome him, before entering the cathedral and the private stop in the Royal Chapel of the Treasure of San Gennaro for the 'adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Then it will reach the main altar, where the bust and reliquary with the ampoules of the Blood of San Gennaro, before the greeting of the Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, of prayer, of listening to the Gospel and the Pope's speech.

The Pope in Piazza del Plebiscito

After passing through the cathedral, the visit will enter its most public part. 17.15 Pope Leo XIV will come in piazza del Plebiscito, one of the places where Naples recognizes itself and gathers in moments that involve the entire city. Here the Pope will greet the faithful, then reach the basilica to meet the community of Minims and some authorities.

All 17.30 will beginmeeting with the city of Naples, with greetings from the archbishop and the mayor, followed by stories, testimonies, music, and voices from the diocese. This will be the moment when the visit will take on a community dimension, before the Pope's speech.

The following will be involved:

• Clare of Joy
• Andrea Sarubbi
• the Choir of Maestro Carlo Morelli
• the young people of the Youth and Vocation Ministry of the diocese

Entrustment to the Virgin Mary

At the end of the meeting in piazza del Plebiscito, the visit will also have a strong Marian character. Pope Leo XIV will accomplish theAct of entrustment to the Virgin Mary before the venerated image of theImmaculate Conception by Don Placido Baccher, which will be brought to the square in second centenary of the Coronation.
It will be a passage with a particular meaning for the city, because it will unite popular devotion, the religious history of Naples and the presence of the faithful gathered around the Pope before the apostolic blessing.

Departure and return to the Vatican

The visit of Pope Leo XIV a Naples will end in the late afternoon, after the farewell to the city and the apostolic blessing in piazza del Plebiscito.
All 18.45 the Pope will leave the square to return to the Round Diaz, from where he will depart by helicopter at 19.00. The arrival in Vatican is expected at 20.00, concluding a day that took the Pope to the central places of faith and public life in Naples.