An official Middle East tour invariably drops foreign dignitaries into the middle of a diplomatic minefield. But Pope John Paul II's pilgrimage to the Holy Land makes other visits look like a stroll in the park.

The Pope brings a message of peace to the region during his week-long visit, but both Arabs and Jews will be examining every word spoken during his itinerary, and every nuance that might be inferred from his actions.

By stressing the religious nature of the trip, the Vatican hopes to avoid the possibility that this pilgrimage might exacerbate rather than heal the sharp divisions which still exist between the two sides.

Full Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_684000/684172.stm

Mitch Battros
Producer - Earth Changes TV
http://www.earthchangesTV.com