For contacts or other resources related to the Papal visit, please contact us at 02-623-2344 or info@m-central.org.  Watch for invitations to upcoming Media Central events and materials about Israel/Vatican and Jewish/Christian relations to be held in late April and early May.

Itinerary of Papal visit to Israel and the disputed territories (Palestinian Authority) – May 11-15, 2009

[Tentative: Source: http://www.mfa.gov.il/]

 Monday, 11 May 2009: Arrival and official welcome

·         Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport (from Jordan), Official welcoming ceremony headed by President Shimon Peres.

·         Brief reception by the Mayor of Jerusalem and local leaders

·         Official welcoming ceremony and meeting with President Shimon Peres

·         Visit  Yad Vashem Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Memorial of the Holocaust

·         Meeting with the Council of Religious Community Leaders in Israel (the Chief Rabbis, the President of the Moslem Religious Court of Appeals, Christian religious leaders, and the heads of the Druze Community)

Tuesday, 12 May 2009: Jerusalem and the Mass at Kidron Valley

·         Visit at the Temple Mount and meeting with the Grand Mufti

·         Visit the Western Wall accompanied by the Chief Rabbis

·         Visit the Chief Rabbis of Israel at Heichal Shlomo Synagogue

·         Visit Mt. Zion and the Cenacle (the site of the Last Supper)

·         Visit Gethsemane Church and hold Mass at the Kidron Valley with an expected 5000 participants.

Wednesday, 13 May 2009: Visit  Bethlehem

·         Welcoming by the head of the Palestinian Authority and preparations for the mass at Manger Square

Thursday, 14 May 2009: Visit to Nazareth

·         Brief reception by the Mayor of Nazareth with local leaders

·         Holy Mass at Mt. of Precipitation

·         Visit the Church of the Annunciation for Mass

·         Meeting with the local religious leaders in the Galilee

Friday, 15 May 2009

·         Meet with local religious leaders at local Churches in Jerusalem

·         Official farewell and ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport, including speeches by  President Shimon Peres and Pope Benedict XVI