JOHN PAUL II TO VISIT HOLY LAND FROM MARCH 20 TO 26

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2000 (VIS) - According to a communique made public today, Pope John Paul II is to make a Jubilee pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The visit, which will include Jordan, Israel and Palestinian Autonomous Territory, is due to take place from March 20 to 26. The text of the communique is as follows:

"In Jordan, the Holy Father will visit the Monastery of Mount Nebo and will celebrate the Holy Mass in the Amman Stadium.

"Then, His Holiness will preside over the celebration of the Eucharist in Bethlehem, the Cenacle (Jerusalem), the Mount of Beatitudes in Galilee, the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth and the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem), accompanied by the Members of the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land. He will hold an ecumenical meeting with the Heads of the Christian Churches in the Holy Land.

"The Pope will go to the Western Wall and El Aqsa Mosque to greet the religious authorities of Judaism and Islam.

"His Holiness will hold meetings with the King of Jordan, with the President of the State of Israel, with the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority and with the Israeli Prime Minister."

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