Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., May 07, 2009 Iyyar 13, 5769 | | Israel Time: 19:12 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100
Last update - 09:31 03/03/2009
Vatican picks Nazareth as venue for papal mass
By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Nazareth, Pope Israel 

The large mass that Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate during his May visit to Israel will be held in Nazareth, and not in Haifa, as had been proposed.

Haaretz has learned that the Vatican made the decision last weekend following a visit by a Vatican delegation that met here with representatives of the two cities. The Christian historical associations with Nazareth tipped the scales in its favor despite some Vatican preference for Haifa.

Israel was notified Sunday about the plans for the mass, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of worshipers, although a formal announcement of the pope's visit and his schedule are only expected next week.
Advertisement
Speaking to Haaretz, Nazareth Mayor Ramez Jeraisi confirmed the details regarding the Vatican's decision on the venue of the mass, and said the city has begun making arrangements for the visit. The mayor indicated that Precipice Mountain will be the venue for the mass; it was prepared for such an event in 2000, when John Paul II visited Israel.

Jeraisi said he met Monday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other officials, and that Nazareth was promised government help for the papal visit, including an allocation from the state budget.

The Nazareth municipality had been concerned about a possible Vatican preference for holding the mass in Haifa as the government believed Nazareth lacked the appropriate facilities. "We are pleased," Jeraisi said, "that in the end the Vatican took the correct and proper decision from our point of view, because no one can deny the status of Nazareth, and we will do whatever we can to ensure the visit and the mass will take place as they should, with the utmost success."

Vatican adviser Wadia Abu Nasser, who will accompany the pope on his visit, said the pope is scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion International Airport on May 11. The mass in Nazareth will take place on the 14th. The Vatican envoy in Israel will announce further details about the visit in the near future.


Related articles:
  • Pope to make rare visit to Israel in May, following months of Jewish-Catholic tension
  • Olmert confirms Pope Benedict to visit Israel in May
  • Clergy demand Pope postpone Israel trip after 'Like a Virgin' television spoof
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    'Unfair Gaza probe'
    Peres tells Ban that Israel will never accept UN's conclusions on its Gaza war conduct.
    Arab fears on Iran
    U.S. allies in the Gulf are worried over Obama's diplomatic overtures to Tehran.
      1.   The Pope 01:42  |  Connie 03/03/09
      2.   And whom will be guarding the Pope? The PA? HA! 02:22  |  Claudia 03/03/09
      3.   Benedict?s XVI pilgrimage facilities 09:18  |  H.H.M 03/03/09
      4.   2 - Claudia 10:05  |  Bob 03/03/09
      5.   Christian Palestinians/ #1+#2 from a Palestinian Christian 10:07  |  Bandar Michaels - 03/03/09
      6.   # 2 11:51  |  Axel 03/03/09
      7.   Nazareth , created for Constantines mother in 4th century...prev 11:55  |  david 03/03/09
      8.   HHM, so they `commute from . . . " 12:00  |  Zev Davis 03/03/09
      9.   Nazareth, t`warn`t no myth. 12:41  |  Zev Davis 03/03/09
      10.   nazareth,,a city born after jesus!! 23:16  |  david 03/03/09
      11.   # 1 to connie re: christians in palestine 20:48  |  eric 04/03/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Durban II conference
    Air strike in Sudan
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    17:40 U.S.: We are committed to Syrian-Israeli peace deal
    18:07 IDF soldier killed during West Bank raid
    17:28 Blair: Israel-Palestinian talks must address Jerusalem
    19:09 How will the German-born pope address the Holocaust at Yad Vashem?
    13:46 Egypt official 'reminds' Israel of its war crimes against Arabs
    17:16 IDF bans Palestinians from hosting pope next to West Bank fence
    18:08 Does an Israeli start-up hold the key to stopping swine flu?
    14:16 Star Trek's J.J. Abrams: A 'lucky schmuck' with Spielberg as mentor
    21:58 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    16:41 Egypt dismisses reports of uranium found at nuclear facility
    16:29 Poll: European Muslims more patriotic than average populace
    14:13 Abbas to form new government without Hamas deputies
    16:38 Petah Tikva man accused of raping woman while posing as rabbi
    11:45 German paper: Berlin pressures firms to limit Iran trade
    14:36 Nine Bedouin 'terror suspects' have charges reduced
    17:22 Proposed budget cuts spark howls of protests from politicos, NGOs
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    The Meier on Rothschild Tower
    Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved