Pilgrimage of His Holiness to the Holy Land, 8-15 May 2009

Pilgrimage of His Holiness to the Holy Land, 8-15 May 2009

Pope Benedict XVI

TV Schedule

During the week of 8 May 2009 through the 15th, the Holy Father follows in the footsteps of Paul VI and John Paul II in making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Before the May 3rd midday Regina Caeli, the Pope listed his goals:

1) To strengthen the Christians of the Holy Land. "As a successor of the Apostle Peter, I will show the closeness and support of the whole body of the Church."

2) To be a pilgrim of peace. "I will give witness to the Catholic Church's commitment in favor of those who work to practice dialogue and reconciliation, to arrive to a stable and lasting peace in justice and mutual respect."

3) To enhance ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. "Jerusalem is, from this point of view, the symbolic city par excellence: There Christ died so as to reunite all of the dispersed children of God."

In-Flight Interview (8 May 2009)

Welcoming Ceremony, Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, Jordan (8 May 2009)

Visit to the Regina Pacis Centre of Amman (8 May 2009)

Visit to the ancient Basilica of the Memorial of Moses at Mount Nebo (9 May 2009)

Blessing of the foundation stone of Madaba University of the Latin Patriarchate (9 May 2009)

Meeting with Muslim religious leaders, members of the Diplomatic Corps and Rectors of universities in Jordan in front of the mosque al-Hussein bin Talal in Amman (9 May 2009)

Celebration of Vespers with the clergy, religious, seminarians and members of ecclesial movements in the Greek-Melkite Cathedral of Saint-George in Amman (9 May 2009)

Homily during the Mass celebrated at the Amman International Stadium (10 May 2009)

Recitation of the Regina Coeli at the Amman International Stadium (10 May 2009)

Blessing of the foundation stones of the Latin and Greek Melkite churches at Bethany beyond the Jordan (10 May 2009)

Farewell ceremony at Queen Alia International Airport of Amman (11 May 2009)

Welcoming ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport of Tel Aviv (11 May 2009)

Courtesy visit to the President of the State of Israel at the presidential palace in Jerusalem (11 May 2009)

Visit to Yad Vashem, the memorial in Jerusalem to the victims of the Holocaust (11 May 2009)

Meeting with organizations involved in interreligious dialogue at the Auditorium of Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem (11 May 2009)

Courtesy visit to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem at the Mount of the Temple (12 May 2009)

Prayer during the visit of the Holy Father to the Western Wall (12 May 2009)

Courtesy visit to the two Chief Rabbis of Jerusalem at Heichal Shlomo Center in Jerusalem (12 May 2009)

Regina Coeli prayer with the Ordinaries of the Holy Land in the Upper Room in Jerusalem (12 May 2009)

Short Visit to the Co-Cathedral of the Latins (12 May 2009)

Mass in the Valley of Josaphat in Jerusalem (12 May 2009)

Welcoming ceremony in front of the presidential palace, Bethlehem (13 May 2009)

Holy Mass on the Manger's Square in Bethlehem (13 May 2009)

Visit to the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem (13 May 2009)

Farewell ceremony in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace (13 May 2009)

Holy Mass on the Mount of Precipice in Nazareth (14 May 2009)

Meeting with the religious leaders of Galilee in the Auditorium of the Shrine of the Annunciation in Nazareth (14 May 2009)

Celebration of Vespers with the Bishops, priests, men and women religious, ecclesial and pastoral movements of Galilee in the upper Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth (14 May 2009)

Ecumenical Meeting with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem (15 May 2009)

Visit to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (15 May 2009)

Visit to the Armenian Apostolic Patriarchal Church of Jerusalem (15 May 2009)

Departure ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv (15 May 2009)