Pope Francis Visit to the Holy Land - May 24-26, 2014
Pope Francis is the 266th Pope, the Bishop of Rome and the absolute Sovereign of the Vatican City State. He is the fourth pope to visit the Holy Land after Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The visit commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Jerusalem meeting between Pope Paul VI and the previous spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, ecumenical patriarch Atengora. It also emphasizes Pope Francis's close ties to the Jewish community and the Vatican's longstanding call for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Visit Schedule:
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Jordan - May 24th - their Majesties the King and Queen of Jordan, authorities, a mass and a visit to Bethany.
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Bethlehem May 25th - the Palestinian Authority, mass in Manger Square and a private visit to the Grotto of the Nativity.
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Israel May 25th and 26th - Jerusalem Patriarch Batholomew, the current ecumenical patriarch, mass in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, meet the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, visit the Western Wall, Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl. Meet the Ashkenazi and Sephardi Rabbis, the President and the Prime Minister of Israel. Visit the Church of Viri Galileai, meet priests, religious men and women and seminarians in the Church of Gethsemane. The final Holy Mass will be held in the Room of the Cenacle with Ordinaries of the Holy Land.
Tours - Participate in Mass in Jerusalem, follow in Jesus' footsteps along the Via Dolorosa, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Church of Gethsemane, the Upper Room and the Mount of Olives. Travel further afield to Nazareth and visit the Church of the Annunciation, the Yardenit Baptism site, Capernaum and Magdala. Don't miss other amazing sites in the Holy Land such as the Western Wall, Jerusalem museums, the
Dead Sea and
Tel Aviv. All tours vary in length, hotels are 3-5 stars on BB basis.