ENCLOSURE NO. 1
USEFUL INFORMATION
1. The organizing committee contacted some available facilities to host pilgrims, whose details you may find below (see attachment no. 2).
2. National Directors and Pastoral Agents, organizing this trip, are invited to personally make a reservation for the accommodation and get in touch as soon as possible, with these facilities, because their availability is very limited. At the time of the reservation, it is important to specify that these people will attend the world pilgrimage organized by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. Our Dicastery CANNOT make reservations for your accommodation.
3. For pilgrims coming by caravans, a specific area has been reserved close by the Divino Amore (Divine Love) Shrine, with a total cost of 50 euro per caravan, during the time of the pilgrimage (Friday 23 - Tuesday 27 of October). For reservations, please contact Mrs. Susanna Mariani of the Migrantes Foundation, by phone + 39 06-66179033 – fax 06-6617901; or email: .
4. During their stay in Rome, pilgrims must look after their own meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). Only two (2) packed lunches will be provided at no cost: on Sunday, October 25, after the Mass at the Divino Amore Shrine, and Monday, October 26, after the Audience with the Holy Father. At a suitable time we will let you know the location for the lunch distribution.
5. Pilgrims arriving by caravans, airplanes and by cars may can use free of charge the connecting shuttles between the lodging facilities and the places where the common activities will be held (Coliseum, Divino Amore Shrine and Vatican).
6. Groups arriving by bus must get circulation and parking permits in Rome.
7. For visits to Christian places, it has been prepared a booklet to help group leaders to select their favorite destinations. Pilgrims must reach those destinations by using public transportation and must also book their own tour guide. In due time, we will provide you with more information regarding tickets for the bus and for the visit to the various locations.
8. In the tour we will include the Major Basilicas (St. Peter, St. Paul outside the Walls, St. John in Lateran, St. Mary the Major, St. Mary in Trastevere), the Catacombs (St. Callistus, St. Sebastian and St. Domitilla), the Roman Squares (Piazza Venezia, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Navona, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Farnese and Campo dei Fiori), the Pantheon, the Coliseum and the archeological area.
9. Visits to the Catacombs are free of charge for all pilgrims and will be coordinates with some volunteers, whose names will be notified later on.
10. In the Christian places no common celebrations have been scheduled, except for the Way of the Cross at the Coliseum on Saturday, October 24.
11. In our program it is planned only one Eucharistic Celebration for all pilgrims, on Sunday, October 25, at the Shrine of the Divino Amore, organised by our Pontifical Council. Those who would like to attend Mass in the other days of the pilgrimage may attend the daily Masses celebrated in the Basilicas and at the Shrine of the Divino Amore.
12. During the Audience on Monday, October 26, the Holy Father will entrust the Roma people to the Blessed Mother. On this occasion, He might crown the Blessed Mother and the Baby Jesus with new crowns donated by the Gypsy people. The offerings collected during the Mass at the Shrine of the Divino Amore will be used to defray the cost for the realization of those crowns.
13. This Dicastery will prepare badges for each pilgrim, with contact numbers in case of emergency, indispensable for the Audience with the Holy Father and for the entrance to the guided tours. Every National Director is invited to notify the number of badges needed for the pilgrims of his country.
14. If there are Gypsy pilgrims in dire need of financial support for their accommodation or bus fare, the Pontifical Council will give them a modest financial aid.