Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Itinerary of Pope Benedict's May 8-15 trip to the Holy Land

Vatican: Pope to begin first Middle East visit in Jordan








Amman, 26 March (AKI) - Pope Benedict XVI's first trip to the Middle East will begin in Jordan where he will visit a major mosque as well as Muslim religious leaders, diplomatic corps and rectors of Jordanian universities.

Benedict will arrive in the Jordanian capital Amman on 8 May and will begin his visit at the Regina Pacis centre for the handicapped and will then make a courtesy visit to the Jordian royal family at the al-Husseini palace.

During his stay in Jordan, Benedict will alsovisit the country's Hashemite Museum and the Mosque of al-Hussein bin Talal, located in Amman, where he will meet Muslim religious leaders.

Later that day he will preside at the celebration of Vespers with priests, religious, seminarians and ecclesial movements in the Greek-Melkite cathedral of St. George in Amman.

On the morning of Sunday 10 May, the pontiff will celebrate mass international stadium in Amman.
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» 03/26/2009 17:20
VATICAN – HOLY LAND

Papal trip to the Holy Land rich in meaning

The Vatican makes public the official programme of Benedict XVI’s visit to the Holy Land, scheduled for 8-15 May. It will be the third trip by a Pope in the modern era to the land where Jesus lived. In addition to the holy sites, the Holy Father will visit Yad Vashem, Amman’s main mosque, the Wailing Wall and the Dome of the Rock.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Benedict XVI’s often-expressed desire to visit the Holy Land is now becoming reality. The Vatican released today the programme of the Holy Father’s trip set for 8-15 May, in Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. In each country he will meet the head of state, Jordanian King Abdullah, Israeli President Peres and Palestinian President Abbas. This is the third papal visit in modern times to the land where Jesus lived. Pope Paul VI came in 1964 and John Paul II, in 2000.

In Jordan on 9 May Benedict XVI will visit the Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, the Mosque of al-Hussein bin Talal in Amman, and bless the cornerstone of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem's Madaba University. On the following day he will travel to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, site of the Lord's Baptism.

The Holy Father will arrive in Israel on Monday 11 May. After the welcome ceremony he will visit the Yad Vashem Memorial in Jerusalem and hold a meeting with organisations devoted to inter-faith dialogue.

On Tuesday 12 May, he will visit the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount in Jerusalem and meet the Grand Mufti. He will then visit the Western Wall and meet Israel’s two Chief Rabbis. In the afternoon he will celebrate Mass in the Valley of Josaphat.
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See also VIS press release: Programme of Holy Father's Trip to the Holy Land.

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 4:21 PM