Mardi dernier, le ministre israélien du Tourisme, Staas Misezhnikov et le maire de Jérusalem, Nir Barkat, ont effectué une visite au Saint Sépulcre, au Cénacle et dans la vallée du Cédron pour se rendre compte par eux-mêmes des divers préparatifs liés à la venue de Benoît XVI. Stas Misezhnikov a répété à plusieurs reprises combien la visite du pape était importante pour Israël. Il a souligné son espoir qu'elle donnerait une nouvelle impulsion au pèlerinage chrétien. "Le pape est un véritable ami d'Israël, il vient ici pour constituer un pont de fraternité et de paix pour tous" a-t-il déclaré. Nir Barkat a, quant à lui, insisté sur le caractère particulier de Jérusalem "capitale des trois religions monothéistes."

Au Saint Sépulcre, c'est l'évêque grec-orthodoxe Aristachos qui a servi de guide à ces deux invités Israéliens. Il a expliqué les différents gestes que Benoît XVI devrait accomplir vendredi prochain dans la basilique. Le ministre du Tourisme comme le maire de Jérusalem n'ont pas réalisé un seul instant que c'était un orthodoxe et non un catholique qui les entretenait avec moult détails sur le pape et la liturgie latine. Si c'est un chrétien orthodoxe qui informe les juifs sur le catholicisme, le messie n'est peut-être plus très loin ...

ZENIT - A Jérusalem, "le messie n’est peut-être plus très loin"

Jordanian worshipers wave to Pope Benedict XVI upon his visit to the Antique Basilica and Moses Memorial on Monte Nebo where the Bible says Moses saw the Promised Land, in Amadaba City, Jordan, Saturday, May, 9, 2009



Pope Benedict XVI is greeted upon his arrival at the ancient Mount Nebo Church near Madaba city, west of Amman, May 9, 2009





Worshippers greet Pope Benedict XVI upon his arrival at the ancient Mount Nebo Church near Madaba city May 9, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI prays at the ancient Mount Nebo Church near Madaba city west of Amman, May 9, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI and cardinals visit the Memorial of Moses monastery on Mount Nebo May 9, 2009



Pope Benedict XVI prays at the Memorial of Moses Monastery at Mount Nebo May 9, 2009.



Pope Benedict XVI prays close to the cross at the Memorial of Moses monastery on Mount Nebo May 9, 2009

A Royal Jordan Air Force jet escorts the airplane carrying Pope Benedict XVI before the landing at Queen Alia of Amman international airport, in Amman, Jordan, Friday, May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI is welcomed by Jordan's King Abdullah and his wife Queen Rania after arriving at Amman airport May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict looks at the honor guard upon arrival at the Queen Alia International airport in Amman May 8, 2009




King Abdullah II of Jordan, centre, walks with Pope Benedict XVI, left, on pope's arrival in Amman, Jordan Friday, May 8, 2009




Jordan's King Abdullah and his wife Queen Rania stand with Pope Benedict XVI during a welcome ceremony for the Pope upon his arrival at Queen Alia International airport in Amman May 8, 2009




Jordan's King Abdullah welcomes Pope Benedict XVI at Queen Alia International airport in Amman May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI is greeted by a Muslim sheikh upon his arrival at Queen Alia International airport in Amman May 8, 2009




Jordan's King Abdullah welcomes Pope Benedict XVI upon his arrival at Queen Alia International airport in Amman May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI is escorted by a Jordan police officer as he waves at faithful upon his arrival at the Regina Pacis center in Amman, Friday, May 8, 2009




Faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI at the 'Regina Pacis' (Lady of Peace) Church in Amman, Jordan, Friday, May 8, 2009




Parishioners pay their respect to Pope Benedict XVI as he leaves after leading a prayer service at he end of his visit to the Lady of Peace Church, his first scheduled visit, in Amman, Jordan Friday, May 8, 2009




A Jordanian soldier woman stands guard as nuns chant slogans for Pope Benedict XVI at the Lady of Peace church in Amman May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI leads the prayer service during his visit to the Lady of Peace Church in Amman, Jordan Friday, May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI leads the prayer service during his visit to the Lady of Peace Church in Amman, Jordan Friday, May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI, right, prays in the Regina Pacis center's Church, in Amman, Friday, May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI receives a traditional Jordanian 'Kaffiyeh' during his visit to the Lady of Peace Church in Amman, Jordan Friday, May 8, 2009




Pope Benedict XVI wears a traditional Jordanian 'Keffeyeh' that was presented to him during his visit to the Lady of Peace Church in Amman, Jordan Friday, May 8, 2009




The Lady of Peace Church, the first scheduled stop in Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the region, in Amman, Jordan Thursday, May 7, 2009


photos : news.yahoo.com

A worker holds Jordanian and Vatican during preparations for the Pope's visit, in Amman May 7, 2009.



Nuns make final preparations at the Lady of Peace Church, the first scheduled stop in Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the region, in Amman May 7, 2009



A nun arranges holds flowers at the Lady of Peace Church, the first scheduled stop in Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the region, in Amman May 7, 2009



A nun sits in a car with a poster depicting pictures of Jordan's King Abdullah and Pope Benedict XVI, in front the Lady of Peace Church, the first scheduled stop in the Pope's visit to the region, in Amman May 7, 2009



Workers set up a banner with pictures of Jordan's King Abdullah (L) and Pope Benedict XVI during preparations at the Lady of Peace Church, the first scheduled stop in the Pope's visit to the region, in Amman May 7, 2009



A Jordanian man buys stamps with images of Pope Benedict XVI and Jordan's King Abdullah at a post office branch in Amman May 7, 2009



Palestinian Muslim women visit the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by many to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Thursday, May 7, 2009



The Popemobile is seen at the foot of the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem's Old City May 6, 2009



An Israeli man sits in the popemobile as it does a test run where the Papal mass will be held in the Kidron Valley, outside Jerusalem's Old City, Wednesday, May 6, 2009



Labourers work on a stage at the foot of the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem's Old City May 6, 2009, where Pope Benedict is expected to lead a mass next week.




Nuns sit at the Grotto of the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Wednesday, May 6, 2009



Nuns walk in the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Wednesday, May 6, 2009



A Palestinian Christian woman is seen following a mass at the Church of Annunciation in the West Bank village of Ein Arik, near Ramallah, Wednesday, May 6, 2009



A Palestinian worker smokes at a construction site next to Israel's separation barrier, ahead of Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit in the Aida refugee camp near the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Wednesday, May 6, 2009.



Nuns stand outside the Church of All Nations near the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem May 7, 2009



Nun pray at the Church of All Nations near the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem May 7, 2009







A nun looks at a stage being built at the foot of the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem's Old City May 7, 2009

photos : news.yahoo.com/