World Jewish News

Pope to Celebrate Three Masses in Israel

The Vatican press service has reported today that Pope Benedict XVI will arrive in Israel on May 11, 2009 for a four-day visit. It will be the third visit of the Head of the Catholic Church to the Holy Land after the state of Israel was established.
Pope Benedict's visit will start in Jordan, following the pattern set by the previous Pope's visit in 2000.
According to the Italian press, the Pope will conduct three Masses: in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth, and will meet the President of Israel Shimon Peres and the PA leaders. The Pope will visit the Yad Vashem memorial complex, which contains the portrait of Pope Pius XII with a critical inscription that had caused the recent crisis in the relations of Israel and Vatican.
A hope has been expressed in Israel that the difficulties in relations between the Jewish State and Vatican are to be overcome. These difficulties originate from the intention to canonize Pope Pius XII despite objections from Israel. Pius XII is accused of not condemning the genocide of Jews openly during the Second World War.