A few weeks from today and the Pope will finally meet the Youth of the World in what has been coined by the press as the largest Catholic Party in the world. Over 1 Million young pilgrims are expected to converge in Madrid from August 16 to 21 coming from all over the world. While the youth bask in the glory of the fantastic city of Madrid, Spain. Pope Benedict XVI will eventually fulfill some appointments with his own set of schedule and itinerary. But despite this busy schedule, the Pope will prioritize his meeting with the youth of the world in several occasions during the World Youth days leading to the finale, when the Pope finally announces the next world youth day host in 2013. Here is the detailed schedule released by the Vatican.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18th , 2011

• 9.30 – Leaves from Rome Ciampino airport
• 12:00 – Arrival at Barajas international airport. Welcoming Ceremony at Barajas airport. Speech by the Holy Father.
• 19:15 – Crosses Puerta de Alcalá in Independencia Square with some Young people
• 19:30 – Welcoming party of the Young people in Madrid’s Cibeles Square. Speech by the Holy Father.

FRIDAY AUGUST 19th, 2011

• 07:30 – Holy Mass in private in the chapel of the Apostolic Nunciature, Madrid.
• 10:00 – Courtesy visit to their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain in the Zarzuela Palace, Madrid.
• 11:30 – Meeting with young nuns in the Patio of the Kings, Monastery of El Escorial. Greeting of the Holy Father.
• 12:00 – Meeting with 2,000 young university professors, in the Basilica of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Speech by the Holy Father.
• 13:45 – Lunch with young people in the Ambassadors Lounge of the Nunciature.
• 17:30 – Official reception with the President of Spain in the Nunciature
• 19:30 – Vía Crucis in Cibeles Square. Speech by the Holy Father.

SATURDAY AUGUST 20th, 2011

• 09:00 – Confession with some young people in the Buen Retiro Park, Madrid
• 10:00 – Holy Mass with young seminarians in the Almudena Cathedral. Homily by the Holy Father.
• 12:45 – Lunch with the Cardinals of Spain, Bishops of Madrid Province, Auxiliary Bishops of Madrid and the Papal retinue in the Cardinal’s Residence.
• 17:00 – Meeting with the Local Organizing Committee of the XXVI WYD in the Apostolic Nunciature
• 19:40 – Visit to the Institute Foundation of Saint Joseph, Madrid. Speech by the Holy Father.
• 20:30 – Prayer Vigil at Cuatro Vientos aeordrome. Speech by the Holy Father.

SUNDAY AUGUST 21st, 2011

• 09:30 – Holy Mass to close the XXVI World Youth Day at Cuatro Vientos, Madrid. Speech by the Holy Father. Holy Angelus at Cuatro Vientos. The Holy Father will speak.
• 12:45 – Lunch with the Cardinals of Spain and the Papal Retinue in the Apostolic Nunciature, Madrid.
• 17:00 – Farewell from the Nunciature
• 17:30 – Meeting with WYD volunteers in Pavillion 9 of IFEMA, the Madrid Convention Center. Speech by the Holy Father.
• 18:30 – Official farewell Ceremony at Barajas Airport. Speech by the Holy Father.
• 19:00 – The Holy Father’s plane takes off
• 21:30 – The Holy Father arrives at Roma Ciampino airport

OTWOMD WILL RUN A WEEK LONG BLOG COVERAGE OF THE WORLD YOUTH DAY IN MADRID TO KEEP READERS UPDATED