NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      JERUSALEM (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II will visit the Holy Land in a historic trip next March, the Israeli Tourism Ministry announced on Monday.

      A ministry spokesman said the Holy Father will visit Israel and areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority under agreements reached by Tourism Minister Moshe Katzav and Cardinal Roger Etchegaray. The Pontiff has repeatedly expressed a desire to visit the Holy Land to open the third Christian millennium by visiting the sites of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection.

      "The Great Jubilee of the year 2000 is the celebration of the birth of Christ and of his life here in this land. It is more than normal that the Pope come here," Cardinal Etchegaray told reporters after meeting Katzav. Israeli media said the Holy Father would visit Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem. The cardinal is scheduled to hold talks with Palestinian leaders on Tuesday to finalize plans to visit areas under their control.

      A papal visit to Israel and the Palestinian areas have faced political obstacles until now, including the ongoing Middle East peace process and questions on the status of Jerusalem, which both Israel and the Palestinians claim as their capital.