Pope to attend La Scala concert of Beethoven's Ninth on 1st day of events focused on families
MILAN - Pope Benedict XVI will attend a concert of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony conducted by Daniel Barenboim at La Scala on the first of three days of events focused on the family.
The pope will greet the faithful in the square outside Milan's cathedral after his arrival Friday afternoon for the seventh World Encounter of Families — a welcome pastoral respite from an embarrassing and damaging leaks scandal at the Vatican that has engulfed the pontiff's personal butler.
Then, a concert at the nearby La Scala theatre will be followed by a Mass inside the cathedral.
The weekend events include a meeting at Milan's San Siro stadium on Saturday with youths who recently received the sacrament of confirmation, and an open-air Mass expected to attract 1 million followers on Sunday.
