ISRAEL/JERUSALEM: THOUSANDS OF CATHOLIC PILGRIMS ARRIVE AHEAD OF HISTORIC PAPAL VISIT

Record ID: 399591

  • Title: ISRAEL/JERUSALEM: THOUSANDS OF CATHOLIC PILGRIMS ARRIVE AHEAD OF HISTORIC PAPAL VISIT
  • Date: 20th March 2000
  • Summary: BEN GURION AIRPORT, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (MARCH 20, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV: SPANISH PLANE ON TARMAC 0.11 2. VARIOUS: HUNDREDS OF SPANISH PILMGRIMS LEAVING PLANE (4 SHOTS) 0.32 3. SV: SECURITY CHECKS 0.41 4. VARIOUS: MAN AND WOMAN PLAYING GUITAR ON TARMAC (4 SHOTS) 1.07 5. ZOOM IN: WOMAN ON BUS WAVING FLAG FROM WINDOW
  • Embargoed: 4th April 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEN GURION AIRPORT, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL / JERUSALEM
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA1RY9V8Y4SQSAZDU2EANZ3802X
  • Story Text: Thousands of Catholic pilgrims have flown to Israel on
    the eve of the Pope's historic visit to the Holy Land.

    The excited pilgrims arrived at Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion
    airport on Monday (March 20).Over the next four days, more
    than 40,000 Christian believers from around the world will
    arrive in Tel Aviv to witness the pontiff's visit, which runs
    from March 21-26.

    In Jerusalem, controversial Palestinian flags and posters
    hanging outside the Pope's residence were taken down on
    Israeli orders.The posters, which had been glued to the gate
    of the Augusta Victoria monastery where the Pontiff will be
    staying during his pilgrimage, described Jerusalem as the
    Palestinian capital.

    The pilgrims are coming from some 70 countries to witness
    the Pope's historic visit, and began pouring into Jerusalem on
    Sunday (March 19).

    The 79-year-old leader of the world's one billion Roman
    Catholics will visit holy sites in Israel, the Palestinian
    Authority and Jordan during what he sees as one of the
    crowning pilgrimages of his papacy.

    The Director General of the Israeli Airport Authority said
    he was very pleased with the special arrangements that have
    been set up to facilitate the pilgrims' arrival.

    He said customs and security checks will take a lot less
    time than usual and that the pilgrims will go through the
    airport swiftly.

    Israel ordered the Palestinian Authority to take down all
    posters, banners and flags celebrating Jerusalem as their
    capital.Talks on the fate of the contested city resume in the
    United States on Tuesday (March 21).


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