Pope Francis will arrive in Israel on Sunday, 25 Iyar 5774. He will visit PA (Palestinian Authority) occupied Beit Lechem and take part in an official welcome ceremony. Towards evening he will meet with officials of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem.

It is interesting that the pontiff will visit and take part in an official ceremony in Beit Lechem considering the fact the PA generally turns a blind eye to the violence and harassment by Muslims against Christian houses of worship in PA areas. Nevertheless, Vatican flags will be flying in the PA city during the visit in a showing of respect and compliance with diplomatic etiquette. PA security officials told the media their troops will be out in large numbers during the official Vatican visit.

On his second day of the visit the pope will visit Har Habayis and meet with Waqf officials and the PA Grand Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Hussein. Once again, Hussein has made vehemently anti-Semitic speeches yet it appears in the name of good relations and diplomatic protocol, the pontiff will meet with him as well.

The pope will then place a wreath on the grave of Theodore Herzl on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, visit Yad Vashem and meet with President Shimon Peres. Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita in his capacity as chairman of Yad Vashem will be escorting the pope, who will then travel to Heichal Shlomo to meet Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and Chief Rabbi David Lau Shlita. He will also be meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other religious officials.

The main event of the papal visit will take place in the President’s Residence. Children of the three faiths will greet the pontiff and he will then meet with the president. A peace ceremony of sorts will take place in the garden following the meeting attended by 500 children.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)