Pope Francis Africa Visit 2015 Schedule: Masses, Speeches, Events For Pontiff's Trip To Kenya, Uganda And Central African Republic

Pope Francis will soon embark on a six-day, three-nation tour of sub-Saharan Africa. The papal trip, which begins Wednesday, will include a visit to Central African Republic, marking the first time Francis steps into an active war zone. Violent sectarian clashes have rocked Central African Republic, where mainly Muslim rebel fighters overthrew the government in March 2013 and triggered revenge attacks by Christian militias. The Argentine pontiff will also travel to Kenya and Uganda this week. Here is the full schedule for Pope Francis' trip to Africa, which was released by the Vatican:

Wednesday

• 7:45 a.m. local time (1:45 a.m. EST) -- Departure from Rome's Fiumicino airport in Italy.
• 5 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EST) -- Arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, followed by a welcoming ceremony at Kenya's State House.
• 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. EST) -- Courtesy visit with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the State House.
• 6:30 p.m. local time (10:30 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with Kenyan government officials and members of the diplomatic corps at the State House, followed by a speech from the pope.

Thursday

• 8:15 a.m. local time (12:15 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with interreligious and ecumenical representatives at the Apostolic Nunciature in Nairobi, Kenya, followed by a speech from the pope.
• 10 a.m. local time (2 a.m. EST) -- Mass on the campus of the University of Nairobi in Kenya, after which the pope will deliver a homily.
• 3:45 p.m. local time (7:45 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with priests, seminarians and religious leaders on the sports field of St Mary's School in Nairobi, Kenya. A speech by pope will follow.
• 5:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. EST) -- Visit to the United Nations Office in Nairobi, Kenya, followed by a speech from the pope.

Friday

• 8:30 a.m. local time (12:30 a.m. EST) -- Visit to the Kangemi neighborhood in Nairobi, Kenya, followed by a speech from the pope.
• 10 a.m. local time (2 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with youths at Kasarani Stadium. A speech by pope will follow.
• 11:15 a.m. local time (3:15 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with the bishops of Kenya in the VIP room at Kasarani Stadium.
• 3:10 p.m. local time (7:10 a.m. EST) -- Farewell ceremony at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya.
• 3:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. EST) -- Departure from Nairobi, Kenya, for Entebbe, Uganda.
• 4:50 p.m. local time (8:50 a.m. EST) -- Arrival at Entebbe International Airport in Entebbe, Uganda.
• 5:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. EST) -- Courtesy visit with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in the State House in Entebbe, Uganda.
• 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with Ugandan authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in the conference room of the State House, followed by a speech from the pope.
• 7:15 p.m. local time (11:15 a.m. EST) -- Visit to Munyonyo, Uganda, and meeting with catechists and teachers. Pope will deliver greetings.

Saturday

• 8:30 a.m. local time (12:30 a.m. EST) -- Visit to the Anglican martyrs' shrine in Namugongo, Uganda.
• 9:00 a.m. local time (1 a.m. EST) -- Visit to the Catholic martyrs' shrine in Namugongo, Uganda.
• 9:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. EST) -- Mass for the martyrs of Uganda near the Catholic shrine in Namugongo, followed by the pope's homily.
• 3:15 p.m. local time (7:15 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with youths at the Kololo airstrip in Kampala, Uganda. A speech by the pope will follow.
• 5 p.m. local time (9 a.m. EST) -- Visit to the Nalukolongo House of Charity in Uganda. Pope will deliver greetings.
• 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with the bishops of Uganda at the archbishop's residence.
• 7 p.m. local time (11 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with priests, seminarians and religious leaders in Kampala's cathedral. A speech by the pope will follow.

Sunday

• 9 a.m. local time (1 a.m. EST) -- Farewell ceremony at Entebbe airport in Entebbe, Uganda.
• 9:15 a.m. local time (1:15 a.m. EST) -- Departure from Entebbe, Uganda, for Bangui, Central African Republic.
• 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. EST) -- Arrival and welcoming ceremony at M'Poko International Airport in Bangui, Central African Republic.
• 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. EST) -- Courtesy visit with Central African Republic's interim president, Catherine Samba-Panzatransitional, at the presidential palace in Bangui.
• 11:30 a.m. local time (5:30 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with Central African Republic leaders and with the diplomatic corps, followed by a speech from the pope.
• 12:15 p.m. local time (6:15 a.m. EST) -- Visit to a refugee camp.
• 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with the bishops of the Central African Republic.
• 4 p.m. local time (10 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with evangelical communities at the evangelical theological school in Bangui, Central African Republic. A speech by pope will follow.
• 5 p.m. local time (11 a.m. EST) -- Mass with priests, catechists religious leaders and youths in the Bangui cathedral. A homily by pope will follow.
• 7 p.m. local time (1 p.m. EST) -- Hearing the confessions of some young people and beginning a prayer vigil outside the Bangui cathedral, followed by a speech from the pope.

Monday

• 8:15 a.m. local time (2:15 a.m. EST) -- Meeting with the Muslim community at the Koudoukou mosque in Bangui, Central African Republic. A speech by the pope will follow.
• 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. EST) -- Mass in the Barthelemy Boganda Stadium in Bangui, Central African Republic, followed by a homily from the pope.
• 12:15 p.m. local time (6:15 a.m. EST) -- Farewell ceremony at M'Poko International Airport in Bangui, Central African Republic.
• 12:30 p.m. local time (6:30 a.m. EST) -- Departure from Bangui, Central African Republic, for Rome, Italy.
• 6:45 p.m. local time (12:45 p.m. EST) -- Arrival at Rome's Ciampino airport in Italy.