With the Pope visit to Milan for the celebration of the VII World Meeting of Families pending, the event’s organisers gave a press presentation of the 790 thousand square metre space at Milan’s Milano Parco Nord – Aeroporto di Bresso, that is to host the celebration’s main events: the vigil on 2 June and the holy mass on 3 June. Bresso airport can hold up to one million people and is currently being fitted out with a large stage the size of a church, which will be able to seat a thousand people.
During the press conference, which was attended by Auxilliary Bishop Erminio De Scalzi, President of the Milan Family Foundation 2012, emphasis was placed on the fact that unlike other big events held in other international cities - for example the World Youth Day held in Madrid in 2011 - in Milan all the celebration’s events will be held near a built-up area, in the heart of a hinterland district right on the city’s doorstep. This will make moving around easier for those who wish to be present. The plan prepared will make it possible the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims expected, to access the event.
“We have prepared an access plan for the site which will make things easier for the public during the events led by the Pope,” which ” Fr. Bruno Manironi, head of the operations section of the Milan Family Foundation 2012.
The site is served by five underground stations, - including the new M5 Bignami line –four railway stations as well as all other transportation services, including tram, which will be running throughout the duration of the event.
Things are also looking positive in terms of the facilities available to welcome families that will be arriving in Milan at the end of May. Presenting the figures, Bishop De Scalzi explained that “With the start of the event a month away, it has already warmed the hearts of the Milanese people.”
To date, more than 33 thousand beds have been made available to pilgrims by 11 thousand families. Another 12 thousand beds will also be made available in various parishes and 50 thousand to host those who will only be staying one night, to attend the vigil on 2 June and the holy mass the following morning.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Milan, Angelo Scola, has written a letter to faithful of the Diocese, published last Sunday in Milan’s parishes. Scola stressed that the World Meeting of Families is “a unique and precious occasion for us all to recognise and bear clear testimony to the ecclesial and social value of the family.”
The cardinal recalled that the Pope’s presence “is a clear demonstration of his attention and affection towards our diocese and the entire population of the city and the country.”
He urged everyone to take part “in person, particularly in the Eucharist celebration at Bresso airport on 3 June.”
The letter also contained some practical instructions: the order for no masses be celebrated in any of the churches of the Diocese of Milan on the morning of 3 June; the invitation to faithful to intensify their personal and collective prayer - particularly through the rosary – and the hope that two representatives from each parish and numerous faithful would participate in the theological-pastoral Congress due to be held from 30 May to 1 June.
Benedict XVI will be arriving in the city 27 years after John Paul II’s last visit and will stay for 2 nights (an unusually long period of time for a papal visit to Italy, organisers noted).
Upon arrival in Milan, Ratzinger will address the people in Piazza Duomo and in the evening he will attend a concert in his honour at La Scala.