Official statement by President Shimon Peres in response to Pope Benedict XVI's acceptance of the President's invitation to visit the Holy Land -
May 11-15
(Communicated by the President's Spokesperson)
President Shimon Peres reacted to Pope Benedict XVI's announcement that he has accepted President Peres's invitation to come visit the Holy Land:
"I am delighted that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has responded positively and accepted my invitation to visit the Holy Land. The Pope will be a most honored guest, welcomed and respected by people from all walks of life. His visit will be a moving and important event bringing the spirit of peace and hope. Welcome to Israel."
In his Sunday Mass this afternoon, Pope Benedict said, "From May 8th-15th, I will make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land to ask the Lord, visiting the places sanctified by his passage on the earth, for his precious blessing of unity and peace for the Middle East and for all of mankind. I am counting on the spiritual support of all of you, and may God accompany me, support me, and bless with his Grace all those who I meet on my way."
President Peres has instructed the Director-General of the Office of the President, Ms. Efrat Duvdevani, to accelerate the preparations for the Pope's visit with all of the relevant government ministries.
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"Holy Land Pilgrimage - A bridge for peace"
Papal Visit to Israel His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
11-15 May 2009
Tourism Minister Ruhama Avraham-Balila: "The Pope's visit to the Holy Land is an important and very significant visit that represents a strategic anchor for pilgrimage tourism to Israel in the coming years. The atmosphere of understanding, reconciliation and peace between peoples and religions that the Pope inspires will contribute to a strengthening of Israel's image and encourage pilgrimages and tourism to Israel, especially in this period when the tourism industry is dealing with the ramifications of the global economic crisis."
Three million tourists visited Israel in 2008, of whom one million were pilgrims (two million Christians in total). Most pilgrims visit the holy Christian and Jewish sites in Jerusalem, the Galilee and Bethlehem.
Itinerary of Papal visit
Monday, 11 May 2009: Arrival and official welcome
- Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport (from Jordan), Official welcoming ceremony headed by President Shimon Peres.
- Brief reception by the Mayor of Jerusalem and local leaders
- Official welcoming ceremony and meeting with President Shimon Peres
- Visit Yad Vashem Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Memorial of the Holocaust
- Meeting with the Council of Religious Community Leaders in Israel (the Chief Rabbis, the President of the Moslem Religious Court of Appeals, Christian religious leaders, and the heads of the Druze Community)
Tuesday, 12 May 2009: Jerusalem and the Mass at Kidron Valley
- Visit at the Temple Mount and meeting with the Grand Mufti
- Visit the Western Wall accompanied by the Chief Rabbis
- Visit the Chief Rabbis of Israel at Heichal Shlomo Synagogue
- Visit Mt. Zion and the Cenacle (the site of the Last Supper)
- Visit Gethsemane Church and hold Mass at the Kidron Valley with an expected 5000 participants.
Wednesday, 13 May 2009: Visit Bethlehem
- Welcoming by the head of the Palestinian Authority and preparations for the mass at Manger Square
Thursday, 14 May 2009: Visit to Nazareth
- Brief reception by the Mayor of Nazareth with local leaders
- Holy Mass at Mount of the Precipice
- Visit the Church of the Annunciation for Mass
- Meeting with the local religious leaders in the Galilee
Friday, 15 May 2009
- Meet with local religious leaders at local Churches in Jerusalem
- Official farewell and ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport, including speeches by President Shimon Peres and Pope Benedict XVI