A blurb from the article:
Despite the pope's insistence that his visit is "religious not political," his
decision to begin his trip from Jordan directly by helicopter with a
stop in Palestinian Authority (PA) controlled Bethlehem has been greeted
by Arab sources as a move to "recognize Palestine" and help "end the occupation." On the other side, the pope would talk about "the Palestinian people's right to have a homeland, sovereign and independent, the right to move around freely, the right to live in dignity," according to Parolin. In fact, the Vatican recognized the "State of Palestine" in 2012 amid the United Nations (UN) vote to confer "Palestine" non-member observer state status, a status until then only held by the
Vatican.
I
shudder every time someone says that the land is "occupied". Clearly no
understanding of the Bible and God's promises and this is the head of
half the world's Christians?
Another "peace and safety" declaration: When asked what the pope particularly intends to talk about during the visit, Parolin revealed he would talk about "on the one hand, Israel's right to exist in peace and security within internationally recognized boundaries."
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:3
The
pope's schedule is also interesting. Easy to see he has multiple
meetings with ecumenical, jewish, muslim, and christian leaders. Would
the pope boldly declare to the people he is meeting with that Jesus is
the only way to the father? I highly doubt it. Looks like a recipe for a
one world religion:
Saturday, May 24, 2014
08:15
Departure from Rome Fiumicino Airport for Amman
13:00 Arrival at the Queen
Alia International Airport in Amman
13:45 ARRIVAL CEREMONY in the al-Husseini
Royal Palace in Amman
COURTESY VISIT TO THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND QUEEN
OF JORDAN
14:20 MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES OF THE KINGDOM OF JORDAN. Discourse
of the Holy Father
16:00 HOLY MASS at the International Stadium in Amman.
Homily of the Holy Father
19:00 Visit to the Baptismal Site at Bethany beyond
the Jordan
19:15 MEETING WITH REFUGEES AND DISABLED YOUNG PEOPLE in the Latin
church at Bethany beyond the Jordan. Discourse of the Holy Father
Sunday,
May 25, 2014
8:15 FAREWELL FROM JORDAN at the Queen Alia Internal Airport
in Amman
8:30 Departure by helicopter from the Queen Alia Internal Airport
in Amman for Bethlehem
9:20 Arrival at the helicopter port of Bethlehem
9:30
ARRIVAL CEREMONY at the presidential Palace in Bethlehem
COURTESY VISIT TO
THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE
10:00 MEETING WITH THE PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY – Discourse of the Holy Father
11:00 HOLY MASS in Manger Square
in Bethlehem. Homily of the Holy Father
REGINA COELI PRAYER. Allocution of
the Holy Father
13:30 Lunch with families from Palestine in the Franciscan
convent of Casa Nova in Bethlehem
15:00 PRIVATE VISIT TO THE GROTTO OF THE
NATIVITY IN BETHLEHEM
15:20 GREETING OF CHILDREN FROM THE REFUGEE CAMPS OF
DEHEISHEH, AIDA AND BEIT JIBRIN at the Phoenix Center of the Deheisheh Refugee Camp
15:45
FAREWELL FROM THE STATE OF PALESTINE at the helicopter port of Bethlehem
16:00
Departure by helicopter from the helicopter port of Bethlehem for Ben Gurion International
Airport in Tel Aviv
16:30 ARRIVAL CEREMONY at Ben Gurion International Airport
in Tel Aviv. Discourse of the Holy Father
17:15 Transfer by helicopter to
Jerusalem
17:45 Arrival at the helicopter port of Jerusalem on Mount Scopus
18:15
Private meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople at the Apostolic Delegation
in Jerusalem. Signing of a joint declaration.
19.00 ECUMENICAL MEETING on
the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the meeting in Jerusalem between Pope Paul
VI and Patriarch Athenagoras in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher. Discourse of the
Holy Father
20:15 Dinner with the Patriarchs and Bishops and the Papal suite
at the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem
Monday, May 26, 2014
8:15
VISIT TO THE GRAND MUFTI OF JERUSALEM in the building of the Great Council on the
Esplanade of the Mosques. Discourse of the Holy Father
9:10 VISIT TO THE
WESTERN WALL in Jerusalem
9:45 Laying a wreath at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem
10.00
VISIT TO YAD VASHEM in Jerusalem. Discourse of the Holy Father
10:45 COURTESY
VISIT TO THE TWO CHIEF RABBIS at Heichal Shlomo Center in Jerusalem, next to the Jerusalem
Great Synagogue. Discourse of the Holy Father
11:45 COURTESY VISIT TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem. Discourse
of the Holy Father
13:00 PRIVATE AUDIENCE WITH THE PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL
at Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem
13:30 Lunch with the Papal suite at Notre
Dame Center in Jerusalem
15:30 Private visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch
of Constantinople at the building next to the Orthodox church of Viri Galileai on
the Mount of Olives
16:00 MEETING WITH PRIESTS, MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS AND
SEMINARIANS in the church of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Discourse
of the Holy Father
17:20 HOLY MASS WITH THE ORDINARIES OF THE HOLY LAND AND
THE PAPAL SUITE in the room of the Cenacle in Jerusalem. Homily of the Holy Father
19:30
Transfer by helicopter from the helicopter port on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem to Ben
Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv
20:00 FAREWELL FROM THE STATE OF
ISRAEL at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv
20:15 Departure from
Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv for Ciampino Airport in Rome
This is all taking place as Ascension Day and Pentecost approach as well as a rare meteor shower from comet Linear.
Steve M