Confirmed: Pope to visit USA April 15-20

When the news rains, it pours.

On top of the USCCB November meeting now in progress, we've now got official confirmation that Pope Benedict is visiting the United States next spring:

Officially confirming Pope Benedict XVI’s visit next spring to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the pope’s nuncio, said that the visit could mark a rebirth of the church in the United States after the trauma of the sexual abuse crisis – “less about the suffering of the past, and more about the program of the future,” he said.

The visit, which will take Benedict to Washington, D.C., and New York, will take place April 15-20, 2008. The announcement ended speculation that Benedict XVI might add other destinations such as Boston to his schedule.

Sambi noted that given the range of dates, Benedict will celebrate both his 81st birthday (April 16) and the third anniversary of his election as pope while in the United States. [source: John Allen]

The schedule:

APRIL 15 - Benedict XVI arrives in the afternoon.
APRIL 16 - Morning: Official welcome at the White House
Afternoon: Address to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
APRIL 17 - Morning: Mass at the new sports stadium in Washington, D.C.
Afternoon: Meeting at the Catholic University of America with educational leaders
APRIL 18 - Morning: Address to the United Nations
Afternoon: Ecumenical meeting
APRIL 19 - Morning: Concelebration with priests of New York and from across the country in St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Afternoon: Session at the Seminary of the New York archdiocese organized by the seminarians
APRIL 20 - Morning: visit to Ground Zero
Afternoon: Returns to Rome

Rocco adds that Abp. Wuerl of DC will be hosting a lunchtime press conference to discuss the trip.

Update: More coverage for the insatiable (like me):

• Associated Press blurb: "Pope Benedict XVI will make his first visit to the United States as pontiff next year, and plans to visit the White House, ground zero and speak at the United Nations."
• Trip of the stadiums: "Benedict will celebrate Mass at the new National Stadium in Washington on April 17, and lead another public Mass at Yankee Stadium on April 20."
• Washington Post staff writer reporting
• Boston laments that it didn't make the final cut for the Pope's itinerary
• CNA: Pope Benedict XVI’s first visit to U.S. will include New York and D.C.
• CWNews: Nuncio confirms plans for papal visit to US
• CNS News Hub: Spilling the beans on the pope's U.S. trip
• USCCB press release: Pope Benedict XVI to visit United States and United Nations