VATICAN CITY- Pope Benedict XVI will visit northern Emilia Romagna next Tuesday to meet people affected by the severe earthquakes that have rocked the region, causing numerous casualties and making thousands homeless, the Vatican says.

The visit resonates with one the Pope made in 2009 to the central city of L’Aquila, after a 6.3 magnitude temblor destroyed much of the city’s historic centre and killed 308 people.

On Tuesday, the pontiff’s helicopter ride to Carpi will put him in the San Marino sports field by 10:15 am, where he will be welcomed by the Head of Civil Protection, Franco Gabrielli.

A minibus will then transfer Benedict to Roverto di Novi, via the ‘red zone’, to the Church of Santa Caterina of Alessandria where the local parish priest was killed during the collapse of the church as he tried to save a statue of Our Lady.

There Vasco Errani, President of Emilia-Romagna will greet the Pope followed by a speech and greetings with representatives of the various entities represented there.

Already, during a meeting with the Families of Milan, Benedict pledged 500,000 euros to families in severe need and the rest for restoration of damaged local churches.

The Pontiff is scheduled to arrive back to the Vatican by 1:15 pm Tuesday in time for his general audience on Wednesday.