Western wall in Jerusalem
A day before the pope’s plane lands in Amman, Jordan, a flurry of last-minute activity – and squabbling – is sweeping across the Holy Land in anticipation of his arrival.
The AFP is reporting that workers throughout the region are scrambling to complete last-minute preparations for the Pope’s visit which will begin tomorrow. It’s supposed to be a “strictly religious” visit, but the turbulent politics of the region can be seen everywhere.
For instance, the banners which will decorate Manger Square, the site of a papal Mass on Sunday, were produced by the Palestinian Museum. They combine biblical scenes of suffering with photos of Palestinians being forced out of their homes or wounded in clashes with Israeli soldiers.
Francis will also drive by giant posters of himself with Palestinian leaders that have been hung from lampposts near the main Israeli checkpoint leading into the city.
“This is how Palestine is — religion and politics are interconnected,” said Bethlehem Mayor Vera Baboun to the AFP.
She’s right, which is why Jerusalem is preparing by adding an estimated 8,000 extra police officers to their usual force for the duration of the pope’s day-long visit.
Israeli side of Jordan River
Two young Jewish students have already been placed on house arrest on suspicion that they were planning to disrupt the pope’s visit. The students hail from a Jewish seminary at Mount Zion where the pope plans to hold a Mass in the Upper Room where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper. The first floor of the same building is also the burial place of Kind David, which is why news of the Mass upset Orthodox Jews who feared the Israeli government was going to cede the beloved building to the Vatican.
Israeli sensibilities were already somewhat pricked by the pope’s decision to visit the baptism site of Jesus at Bethany Beyond the Jordan because this spot is on the eastern side of the river – which places it in Jordan rather than in Israel – much to the dismay of the Israeli tourist department.
Meanwhile, workers in Jerusalem mounted nearly 1,000 papal and Israeli flags throughout the city but the brilliant colors are in stark contrast to the grim police barriers that have been erected inside the Old City’s Christian quarter. The faithful are upset because the barriers will severely restrict their movement during the visit.
“They say it’s for security, but it’s political,” said Elias, a spice shop owner who only gave his first name to the AFP. “They want to make it seem like we [Christians] don’t exist.”
Bethlehem
Still, local citizens and pilgrims to the area are excited about the trip and hoping to get a glimpse of the pope as he passes through Bethlehem and Jerusalem on his way to visit various holy sites or meet other religious leaders.
“I’m happy the pope is coming, but also worried he might not deliver a strong enough message of support for Palestinian Christians,” said Louis Michel, who runs a souvenir stall outside the Church of the Nativity.
The pope, who loves to consort with the locals in his travels will certainly notice the tensions of the area during this whirlwind trip which will find him visiting three regions in three days and making 13 speeches or homilies.
It will begin tomorrow in Amman where he will meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, then celebrate Mass at the International Stadium. Later he will visit the site of Jesus’ baptism, then meet with refugees from Syria and Iraq.
On Sunday morning he will be flown by helicopter into Bethlehem in the West Bank where he will meet with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. This will be followed by Mass in Manger Square, a tour of the Church of the Nativity, and meet with children from nearby refugee camps.
On Sunday evening he will head to Jerusalem and meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.
Monday, he will visit the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and Yad Vashem. He will spend time Israel’s president Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This will be followed by a meeting with men and women religious in the church of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. He will celebrate Mass one more time before departing for Rome at 8:00 p.m.
To wrap it all up, he will meet with men and women religious in the church of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives, celebrate mass one more time, and then depart for Rome at 8 p.m.
We can only hope that Pope Francis, who emulates his namesake, will bring a much needed spirit of peace into this trouble-strewn area of the world!
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