DFA expects Pinoy pilgrims to flock to Israel for pope’s visit

14Mar09

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expects an increase in the number of Filipino pilgrims going to Israel during Pope Benedict XVI’s official pilgrimage there from May 11 to 15.

DFA Assistant Secretary Shulan Primavera advised the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to help facilitate the travel of pilgrims particularly in Church-organized trips.

“To ensure that these pilgrims will not encounter difficulties concerning their visit, please advise the Israeli Embassy of the names of Filipino pilgrims who will be visiting Israel under Church-organized pilgrimage, for the issuance by the said Embassy of a certification that will facilitate their admission to Israel,” the Israeli Embassy stated in a letter to the DFA, a copy of which Primavera furnished the CBCP.

Excerpts of the letter were posted Friday on the CBCP website (www.cbcpnews.com).

According to the CBCP, Primavera said the Israeli Embassy informed the DFA that Israel has not made any changes in its visa policy in view of the papal pilgrimage to Holy Land.

Under its current policy, the Israeli Embassy does not require Filipino citizens a visa to travel to Israel.

The embassy also said it will issue a certification for Filipino pilgrims or tourists planning to go to Israel during the papal visit to facilitate their entry to the nation-state.

But anticipating an influx of tourists, the embassy informed DFA that names of those going to Israel should be sent to the embassy to facilitate their entrance to Israel.

Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Israel will include meeting with government officials led by President Shimon Peres, who will welcome the Pope on his arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport in the morning of May 11.

A meeting with the council of Religious Community leaders of Israel, including the chief rabbis, the president of the Muslim Religious Court of Appeals, Christian religious leaders, and the heads of the Druze Community, is also slated on the same day.

Aside from meeting with civil and religious leaders of Israel, the pope’s itinerary includes a visit and wreath-laying ceremony at the Yad Vashem Martyrs’ and Heroes Memorial of the Holocaust.

He will also tour the Temple Mount and visit the Western Wall on May 12. On the same day, he will pray with Catholic Ordinaries at the Cenacle (the Site of the Lord’s Supper). He will pray at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on May 15, the last day of his journey.

A papal Mass will be celebrated on May 12 at the Gethsemane Basilica at the Kidron Valley with about 5,000 people expected to participate.

On May 14, the Pope will go to Nazareth where he will meet with local leaders. He will celebrate Vespers at the Grotto of the Annunciation with bishops, priests and clergy, and representatives of Church movements of the Galilee, with participants roughly estimated at 3,000.

On May 15, the last day of his visit, the Holy Father will meet and pray with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch and Armenian Patriarch. An official farewell ceremony at the Ben Gurion International airport led by Peres will be feted on the pontiff as he officially ends his visit.

The Pope’s official delegation is composed of 40 representatives from the Vatican. About 70 representatives of the foreign media will be accompanying the Pope in his official pilgrimage.

The CBCP said the papal visit comes at a time when Israel is smarting from Vatican’s move to lift the excommunication of a British bishop who had made comments denying the Holocaust.

Bishop Richard Williamson and two other bishops of Marcel Lefebvre’s Society of St. Pius X were excommunicated when they were consecrated bishops without Vatican’s approval.

Wanting to heal the rift with the ultra-conservative society, Vatican has lifted up the 20-year excommunication decree which drew worldwide criticism especially among Jewish circles, because of Williamson’s belief that the Holocaust never took place.

Vatican has since condemned Williamson’s denial of the Holocaust and demanded that he recant his statements.

Williamson apologized for his anti-Semitism remarks, according to news reports, although he did not entirely recant his personal views.