MASS ATTENDANCES PROJECTED
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SIR, the news agency of the Italian bishops conference, reports from Aparecida that 300,000 people are expected to attend the Mass to be celebrated May 13 at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida by Pope Benedict XVI.
Mons. Piero Marini, liturgical master of ceremonies for the Pope, and his assistant, Mons. Enrico Vigano, were in Aparecida yesterday to inspect the site and look into preparations for the Pope's visit.
They were accompanied by Dom Geraldo Lírio, Archbishop of Vitória da Conquista, and in charge of liturgy for the V General Conference fo Latin American and Caribbean Bishops, which is the occasion for the Pope's visit to Brazil.
Last Friday, Marini visited the site of the open-air Mass to be celebrated by the Pope in Sao Paolo on May 11 at the Campo da Marte airfield north of the city.
According to a Portuguese news agency, Church officials said they expected up to 2 million faithful to attend this Mass even if it will be on a weekday.
Marini looked at the winning design for the altar, which was selected from five submitted, and suggested a few changes, such as extending the roof to protect the whole altar in case of rain.
The texts for the various liturgical celebrations by the Pope in Brazil have been approved, and will now be printed into booklets carrying the texts in Portuguese, Spanish in English.
Marini and Vigano have returned to the Vatican.
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P.S.
A news report today (2/13) from an online Portuguese news agency - posted by Andrea in the Iberian section - now estimates the attendance at the Pope's Mass in Aparecida to be as many as 500,000-600,00. The annual feast of Our Lady Aparecida on October 12 normally attracts 200,000 pilgrims.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 13/02/2007 18.02]