SPAIN: Thousands of nuns and pilgrims wait to meet the head of the Roman Catholic church at El Escorial Cathedral
Record ID:
644235
SPAIN: Thousands of nuns and pilgrims wait to meet the head of the Roman Catholic church at El Escorial Cathedral
- Title: SPAIN: Thousands of nuns and pilgrims wait to meet the head of the Roman Catholic church at El Escorial Cathedral
- Date: 20th August 2011
- Summary: EL ESCORIAL, NEAR MADRID, SPAIN (AUGUST 19, 2011) (REUTERS) EL ESCORIAL CATHEDRAL VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS POLICE ON HORSE-BACK VARIOUS OF NUNS ARRIVING AT EL ESCORIAL CATHEDRAL (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOTHER SAGRADO CORAZON FROM THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD AND THE VIRGIN OF MATARA IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYING: "It's a beautiful day for us to be united to the head of the Church and to Christ on Earth. So all of us are so excited to be together to celebrate our faith and to walk together with Christ." PILGRIMS IN FRONT OF EL ESCORIAL CATHEDRAL NUNS AND MONKS OUTSIDE CATHEDRAL NUNS WAITING FOR THE POPE PILGRIMS WAITING FOR THE POPE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PILGRIM CARLOTA, SAYING: "I'm very excited because it is a unique opportunity to be here close to the Pope. We are very excited to have the opportunity to see him that close. He brings us peace and joy." PILGRIMS GATHERED OUTSIDE EL ESCORIAL CATHEDRAL PILGRIM SLEEPING ON GROUND
- Embargoed: 4th September 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain, Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA6LJO14RY2LW5PMVBLS8LT9H97
- Story Text: Thousands of Catholics from around the world gathered at Spain's El Escorial Cathedral on Friday (August 19) for an opportunity to meet Pope Benedict XVI.
The head of the Roman Catholic church is paying a four-day visit to Spain to attend a youth festival.
Mother Sagrado Corazon from the Servants of the Lord and Virgin of Matara congregation said she had travelled all the way from the United States to see the Pope.
"It's a beautiful day for us to be united to the head of the Church and to Christ on Earth. So all of us are so excited to be together to celebrate our faith and to walk together with Christ," she said.
Benedict will meet 1600 young nuns and academics inside the Cathedral in the historic town of San Lorenzo del Escorial, 50 kilometres north west of Madrid.
Waiting outside the Cathedral, pilgrim Carlota said it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the pontiff.
"I'm very excited because it is a unique opportunity to be here close to the Pope. We are very excited to have the opportunity to see him that close. He brings us peace and joy," she said.
The pope, who spent the morning with Spanish King Juan Carlos at the Zarzuela palace, is due to arrive at the Cathedral in the popemobile.
His visit to Madrid is aimed at encouraging the Roman Catholic Youth to follow the teachings of their faith in the face of growing numbers of atheists and agnostics. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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