Pope Benedict will visit the hospital of the Order of Malta - San Giovanni Battista - in Rome on Sunday.
He will be welcomed by Grand Master Fra’ Andrew Bertie and will be celebrating Mass with the patients and members of the Order.
The hospital was opened 35 years ago and is regarded as being a leader in the neurological treatment and rehabilitation of brain-damaged patients.
This will be the first visit any Pope has made to the hospital, which was built around the area of the ancient “Castello della Magliana”, for centuries a summer residence for Popes. The hospital is managed and run by the Italian Association of the Order.