Pope Benedict XVI will visit Israel from May 11 to 15 and will make a stop in Amman, Jordan, before arriving there, according to the Il Foglio daily which cited Vatican sources.Both the Vatican and Israeli government officials confirmed some three weeks ago that the pope was considering a visit to the Holy Land in 2009.
Although no dates were given, the Israeli daily Haaretz said that the pope would visit sometime in May.
According to Il Foglio, Benedict also intends to meet with Palestinian Authority officials during his visit.
The daily wrote that the pope will celebrate three important masses, one in Jerusalem, one in Nazareth and one in Bethlehem.
Il Foglio also said that Benedict has no intention of meeting with representatives from the Hamas Islamic party but will visit the Yad Vashem memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and will hold talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres.
The Holy See has not commented on the Il Foglio report but the itinerary indicated by the daily was the same as the one followed by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
Benedict, the daily wrote, will arrive in Amman on May 8 and stay in Jordan for three days, after which he will fly to Israel aboard a Royal Jordanian Airline plane.
The pope will fly Israel's El Al airline when he leaves on May 15 for Italy.
Last week Peres, who personally invited Benedict in September 2007, met with a Vatican delegation assigned with the task of organising the pope's visit. Benedict's visit to the Holy Land is expected to be officially announced sometime before Christmas.
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(Source: Ansa)