Photo: Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, May 6, 2009

Wed May 6, 10:56 AM ET

A Muslim man walks past the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, ahead of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit in Israel Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Pope Benedict XVI will visit Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories during his eight-day Holy Land tour that begins Friday, May 8. It’s only the second official papal visit to the Jewish state and comes nine years after a groundbreaking trip by Pope John Paul II. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Pope Benedict XVI to visit Holy Land in May to encourage Christian-Muslim dialogue for ME peace

Pope to visit Palestinian territory in May

Date: 17 / 02 / 2009  Time:  17:13

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Pope Benedict XVI will visit Jordan, the West Bank, and Israel in in May, a spokesperson for the Catholic church in Jordan confirmed on Tuesday. Ref’at Bader, the church spokesman said that the Pope will be in the Jordan from 8 to 11 May before crossing into the Palestinian territories and Israel. “The Pope will spend four days in Jordan and then will head to Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem,” he said, “It is a good tradition that the Pope’s visit will start from Jordan,” Bader said, citing visits by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and Pope John Paul II in 200, both of which began in Jordan. The upcoming papal visit will be the longest visit in Jordan itself. The Pope plans to visit Mount Nebo, in Jordan, thought to be the burial site of Moses, and will lay the cornerstone of a church in the Jordan valley. Benedict will also meet with Islamic religious officials in an effort to encourage Islamic-Christian, and to discuss the role of religion in achieving peace in the Middle East. He added that the Pop will deliver a religious speech to bless the place and will meet with Islamic religious figures to encourage the Islamic-Christian dialogue and will take about the role of religion in achieving peace in the Middle East.”