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Pope Opts Out of Boston Visit

Pope Benedict will be making his first visit to the United States next spring, but Boston will not be on the itinerary.

The Vatican ambassador to the U.S. told American bishops meeting in Baltimore today that the pontiff will travel to Washington and New York from April 15th to the 20th.

Archbishop Pietro Sambi said Benedict will visit the White House on the 16th and celebrate a public Mass at the new National Stadium in Washington on the 17th.

The schedule calls for the pontiff to speak at the United Nations on the 18th. The final day of the visit will include a visit to ground zero and a Mass at Yankee Stadium.

Cardinal Sean O'Malley said in June that he planned on inviting the pope to the city to help celebrate the bicentennial of the Boston Archdiocese next year.

The last papal visit to Boston was in 1979, when John Paul II began his first visit to the U.S. with a stop in the city.

This program aired on November 12, 2007. The audio for this program is not available.

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