Cardinal says pope may visit Baltimore in 2007

Published: 2006-01-27

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore has invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit Baltimore and has expressed hope the trip will take place in 2007. "The Holy Father will most likely be able to come next year," the cardinal said after returning from Rome in mid-January. The cardinal had originally invited the pope to visit in the fall of this year for the rededication of the Basilica of the Assumption, the first metropolitan cathedral in the United States, but the pope's schedule was filled up, said Sean Caine, archdiocesan communications director. The possibility of a papal trip to Baltimore was discussed by the cardinal Jan. 17 at the annual archdiocesan Catholic Charities dinner after he had returned from attending Rome events sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Caine told Catholic News Service Jan. 27 that while in Rome Cardinal Keeler heard that the pope already had an invitation to visit the United States in 2007 and asked the pope to visit Baltimore as part of the trip. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has not invited the pope to visit in 2007, said Msgr. Francis J. Maniscalco, conference spokesman. "I don't know of any other invitations," he said.

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