Pope Francis announces visit to Holy Land

Pope Francis will visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem in the West Bank, and the Jordanian capital, Amman from May 24 to 26

Pope Francis has announced his first trip as pontiff to the Holy Land.

Pope Francis will visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem in the West Bank, and the Jordanian capital, Amman from May 24 to 26.

The pontiff made the announcement during his weekly Sunday blessing in Vatican City.

Pope Francis will visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem in the West Bank, and the Jordanian capital, Amman from May 24 to 26

The visit is so far Pope Francis’ only foreign trip planned for 2014. He will celebrate Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with the ecumenical patriarch, Bartholomew.

“In the climate of joy typical of this Christmas period, I would like to announce that from 24 to 26 May, God willing, I will carry out a pilgrimage to the Holy Land,” Pope Francis told crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square.

The date of his announcement – Sunday, January 5th – marks the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting in Jerusalem between the Pope and the leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians.

January 5th is significant because it “commemorates the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople” in 1964, he said.

IIpHjBEdnKo

Diane A. Wade

Diane is a perfectionist. She enjoys searching the internet for the hottest events from around the world and writing an article about it. The details matter to her, so she makes sure the information is easy to read and understand. She likes traveling and history, especially ancient history. Being a very sociable person she has a blast having barbeque with family and friends.