BICOM

Preparations are being made in Israel for the visit of Pope Francis, who will be in the country for 48 hours from Sunday. It is the first Papal visit to Israel since Pope Benedict in 2009.

Pope Francis will first visit Jordan on Saturday before travelling to Bethlehem, in the Palestinian-controlled area of the West Bank. Some have interpreted the Pope’s direct entry into Palestinian Authority (PA) territory from Jordan, rather than via Israel as an indication of tacit recognition for full Palestinian sovereignty. Pope Francis will meet PA President Mahmoud Abbas, celebrate mass in Manger Square and is also scheduled to meet with residents of Palestinian refugee camps in the area.

On Sunday evening, he will travel to Jerusalem, via Ben Gurion International Airport. Pope Francis is scheduled to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Chief Rabbis. He will also visit the Western Wall, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and will become the first pontiff to visit the tomb of Theodor Herzl, the founding father of modern Zionism.

Mass will be celebrated by the Pope at the Cenacle on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion, which is believed to be the site of the Last Supper and is also revered in Jewish tradition as the tomb of King David. The question of prayer rights at the site has become somewhat sensitive during the past few weeks. While visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Pope Francis will hold an historic meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew I, head of the Eastern Orthodox churches. Until 50 years ago, the two churches had been locked in a thousand-year long dispute.

Ahead of the Pope’s arrival, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said that, “This visit is of historic importance and paramount significance to Jerusalem.” Meanwhile, Israel’s Tourism Ministry has said there will be a 10 per cent increase in Christian tourists to Israel this year due to the Papal visit.