This weekend His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will be in Valencia for the World Forum on the Family. Following is an excerpt from an email sent to team members Tuesday by Sofia Barraclough (ESP, Family Services Coordinator) as a heads up on the expected impact on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in and around VLC this weekend....


SCHEDULE

Saturday 8th morning and early afternoon: After arrival at Valencia's Manises airport at around 11.30 a.m. the Pontiff will be welcomed with a ceremony, followed by his address to the gathering. From the airport the Pope will be driven in an open vehicle to the cathedral of Valencia in the city centre. Pope Benedict will then visit the cathedral, the Holy Chalice Chapel and the Basilica. After reciting the Angelus in the basilica's square, the Pope will be received in the residence of Archbishop Agustín García-Gasco of Valencia, where the Pope will reside during his stay in Valencia.

Saturday 8th evening: The Pope will then go in an open car to the testimonial meeting, which beginning at 8 p.m., will gather more than a million pilgrims at the Puente de Monteolivete (Alameda - Francia Area) in a context of prayer and testimonies.

On Sunday 9th: the Pontiff will preside over the solemn closing Mass at 9:30 a.m. on the Monteolivete bridge. At the end of the Mass he will lead the recitation of the Angelus. After taking bidding farewell to the pilgrims, the Pontiff will leave Manises at 1 p.m. on his flight back to Rome. Family Forum celebrations will continue in the Monteolivete Bridge area until the afternoon and on Monday 10th.

In addition to this, the Spanish Royal Family in full, the president of the Government and many other politicians will be present. So security will be at an all time high over the weekend.

TRAFFIC

Friday 7th from 15:00 hrs: Traffic will be cut as shown on map Area 1; a printed map will be put in each staff member's cubbyhole. (A big one is on notice board in coffee area.) Affecting the centre area of the city, as in Fallas, and extending along the river to the end of Alameda.

Traffic will remain cut until Sunday night or early Monday morning.
Only Paseo Alameda will remain cut off all Monday due to Family Forum in the river.

PARKING

Parking will be forbidden during this time on the streets: Avenida Francia, Paseo Alameda, Calle Menorca and all minor streets that lead off these. Much of the Old Town will be no parking either. Look out for NO PARKING signs that will be put up provisionally all over town.

Other traffic blockades: The Pope will be visiting the city in his pope mobile, at different times over the weekend, which means traffic will also be cut sporadically in other areas of the city as he is driven through, going to and from airport, from Cathedral to river etc. For security reasons, his route will not be made public, so just be patient if you are caught in an area that is temporarily cut off. These areas could be anywhere in the Area 2 or Area 3 (see map.)

PEDESTRIANS

People on foot will not be forbidden to access cut off streets and will be able to move freely through the city, BUT due to the huge amount of visitors this may be difficult at times. If certain areas are too packed, police may stop more people from accessing the crowded areas, but if you are a resident trying to get to your house, you can show the policemen proof of where you live so he will give you priority getting through. [See Sofia's email for details.]

IDENTIFICATION

You need to carry identification AT ALL TIMES, by Spanish law. At times like these when security will be extremely tight, make sure you are carrying either or both of (a) your Spanish Resident Card ("NIE") and (b) your Passport. Driving licenses are NOT a valid form of identification.

CARS

Although the roadblocks will be lifted from time to time for residents to get in and out of the area, we do not recommend you risk leaving your car in the restricted area. Best to leave your car at the Base, from where you will be able to drive out of the city easier.

GETTING OUT OF TOWN

If you are planning on escaping the city, it is recommended you travel on Thursday evening or Friday morning to avoid the rest of the Valencians leaving town. On Friday evening there will be a congregation at the Malvarrosa beach, so the traffic may be cut off around the Port area (similar very messy situation as on 21/22 June -- San Juan's night).

GETTING BACK INTO TOWN

On Sunday evening, to allow the thousands of visitors out of the city, extra lanes will be given to leaving traffic, so there will be fewer lanes (on some motorways only one lane,) coming back into town. Huge traffic jams can be expected for cars returning to Valencia. We recommend you return to Valencia Monday morning instead of Sunday evening.

MOBILE PHONES

For security reasons, mobile coverage will be interrupted on and off during the Pope's visit, so don't depend on your mobiles over the weekend, nor bother calling Vodafone for explanations (the Madrid terrorist bombings of 2003 where detonated by mobile phones).

* * * * *

Inasmuch as Papa Benedicto is not only German but Bavarian, will we see a Popemobile by BMW?