Rome awaits biggest pilgrimages

MORE than 7,000 pilgrims arrived in Rome last week-end — heralds of tens of
thousands who will spend Holy Week and Easter in the Eternal City.
Thirty thousand are going from France alone.
Most of the 7,000 came from Italy, but there were also groups from the United States, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Finland and Brazil.
Two arrived on foot from Holland.
April will see the arrival of big pilgrimages from England. On April 8. 550 will arrive from the Salesian Colleges in England, and three days later there will be 520 pilgrims from various dioceses in England.
An international pilgrimage of civilian and military airmen will be held in Rome during the second week in May under the patronage of Mgr. Carlo Ferrero di Cavallerleone, Ordinary of the Italian Army. Some 3,400 Belgian students who will be in Rome in April will make an all-night vigil amidst the ruins of the Colosseum. Cardinal Micara, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites and formerly Papal Nuncio in Beligum, will take part.
The Holy Father last week held a second public audience in St. Peter's.
In his address to more than 12,000 people His Holiness spoke in six languages.