Blogs aim to bring pope to Quebec, but Vatican says it's not in plans

Published: 2007-11-07

OTTAWA (CNS) -- A former Quebec justice minister has launched an online petition aimed at bringing Pope Benedict XVI to Quebec for the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in June. Marc Bellemare has set up a Web site -- www.pape2008.com -- so people can sign an electronic version. Several thousand people already had done so in early November. Bellemare told the Journal de Quebec that he believes the pope can be convinced to come if there is widespread support for his visit. More than a dozen blogs raised awareness of the petition Nov. 7 in coordinated "blogburst," featuring links to the petition Web site and pictures of the pope. However, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, told Catholic News Service Nov. 7: "As I have already said several times, the plans for (papal travel) next year are to the United States for a visit to the United Nations in April; to Sydney, Australia, for World Youth Day in July; and to Lourdes," France, in the fall for the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions there. "I have not seen any plans for a visit to Quebec," he said.

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