Czech policeman to drive Pope's papamobile on his visit

He said about 200 policemen, his subordinates together with policemen from other departments, will be protecting the Pope on his Czech visit at the invitation of President Vaclav Klaus on September 26-28.

Klaus will have a meeting with Benedict XVI on September 26. Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer will receive Vatican State Secretary Tarcisio Bertone.

Kvicala said the Pope's strong protection is slightly unusual mainly due to the large public meetings, particularly the mass he will serve at Turany-Brno airport on Sunday, September 27.

Some 120,000 people, including from abroad, may come to the mass.

Extensive security measures are also planned on September 28 in Stara Boleslav, central Bohemia, where the Pope will pay tribute to St Wenceslas, the Czech patron saint who died a martyr's death there in 935. The Pope will then serve a mass on a meadow outside the town.

Two specially adjusted papamobiles will be ready for Benedict XVI during his Czech visit.

"We will go for to the Vatican," Kvicala said, adding that the vehicles will be transported to the Czech Republic on lorries.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz