yes, the pope should threaten to cancel his trip, not because of the israeli "occupation", but because of the PLO occupation, which is ethnically cleansing the west bank and gaza of its christian population. places like bethlehem, have gone from an 80% christian majority to 20% sinc ebeing handed over by israel to "palestinian authority" rule. and the few remaining christians in gaza fear for thier lives, not because of israeli shelling, but because of hamas gunmen. the pope should speak out against moslem violence and intimidation, and the attacks on christian holy sites. by visiting israel and failing to mention these islamist crimes, he will only be serving as a fig leaf for the real terrorist occupation.

Try learning before commenting. Your comment implies hatred against Palestinians and Palestinian Christians. Living in the US and giving suggestions can only work in online world. We, Palestinian Christians and Muslims, live in this land, we go through Israeli occupation and oppression, and we have every right to speak about this, even to Pope. Meanwhile, it would be nice if you clear yourself from your hatred and make an effort to consider people equally, otherwise you are only a disgrace to Christianity.

Quote "Open the archives that help document how you are responsible for the murders of millions of Jews, and then a dialogue may be opened. It is you that should be begging our forgiveness. " If I remember correctly Pope John Paul did acknowage the errors of church against the Jews.... and in the new testement writings ...no where does it support harrasing and killing Jews.... in Romans 8 ,9,10 & 11 it warns christians to the contrary .... Yes there were atrocities ...but they were not sanctioned by the early church and certianly not sanctioned by christ ( as he forgave those who crucified him while he was on the cross) the problems came after constantine started having influance over the church and it became more of a political system rather than a spiritual system. there are a lot of us christians out there that support the jews and Israels right to exist ...we realize that till the messiah reveals himself to the Jewish people ....the question of whether jesus is that returning messiah will remain controversial... Iam willing to allow the Jews the right to make that determination for themselves ....and I will pray for everyones wisdom on the question.

His holocaust denying bishop declares that catholicism is the only religion and that the rest of the world are "going to hell in a handbasket". Be a leader, take the first leap and show the rest of them the way.

Now if thats not an act of G-D I don't know what is.

Sarah , New York City I am so glad you are in New York City ....as the mid east is already full of bitterness.... It is time for God to deliver our souls from bitterness and teach us forgivness.... for peace will not be had untill that happens....

I wish you could join him.

Sarah, I am convinced you have a few nuts and bolts loose in your little brain. Check with your local mechanic.

their head quarters were in beit jala, and they were shooting at gilo, a southern neighbourhood in jerusalem. this only happened a few years ago, during 2nd intifada. they were not concerned if historical buildings would be ruined in the process of them shooting at people. i wonder if the pope knows that.

The Jews were the first to persecute Christians, way before the Romans went after them. Jewish scripture led us to believe what we do. I'm convinced that if only Jews and Christians existed, there still would be war.

Because I live or lived in the U.S., I cannot say anything. Get Bent> Your poor me attitude sucks. I could care less where the Pope goes. You should study before you call someone ignorant. Palestinians Christians is an odd concept since you never hear Christaian values coming out of Palestine, Just hamas and allah. Stick up for your Jesus then. Judging me will not make things different.

Blessings in Yeshua brother. It is refreshing to hear the gentle voice of the Mashiach through all the hate and bitterness in these posts.

Correction, my cousin. u will not leave because the Palestinian government will mistreat you, will mistreat your women, will slave your children and will NOT give you any allowance the way the Israeli government does. so why dont you shut up and just appreciate what God sent you in the form of Israel?

is larger than the love for their Pope. Bad Christians.

This article has somehow launched exactly the sort of ignorance based venom I'm accustomed to hearing issued against Israel and the Jews. I might add that blaming this Pope for the Inquisition, etc., is equivalent to blaming the Jews for the Crucifixion.

Why, thank you for the suggestion. Anyone ever tell you that free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it?

And when the Arab states try again to expel all Jews from Palestine? Shall we Americans say too frickin' bad? According to your logic that would be the case. Especially since you wouldn't want us Christians "meddling" in you Jewish country and affairs. I'll make sure to write my senators to let them know this.

Thanks for those dates...good to remember. Btw, Joo in Eurabia is with us...you didn't catch his post.

All Charles did, was to correct you. You show yourself up as the stupid one, not he and your post # 30 was vile. We all know The Vatican has been a huge source for Jewish suffering but that doesn't mean that ALL Roman Catholics, including priests over the years were/are bad people. If one saved your life you might think differently. Apologize to Charles when you cool down

Every traditional church has a "pope", it just so happens that the Ashkenazy elite's ancestors lived in the west so this is the one they are most aware of, plus CNN has had a love affair with popery since they started on the air and are always pope this and pope that. There are scores of popes - let's invite them all at the same time and listen in on the arguments ha ha good clean fun.

What are you talking about, dimwit? Arab states try to expel all Jews from Palestine? Excuse me, but are you taking all your meds? ISRAEL runs the show. ISRAEL will NEVER RELINQUISH THAT CONTROL. Oh, go ahead and write your senators. Hopefully, your state has good psychiatric medical insurance coverage. Really, Bob? What on EARTH are you babbling about?

Thank you, Mark, for your considered post. Charles and I go back a ways. Charles claims to have been "saved" by Catholics during World War II. I'm glad. My father's story was a little different. He was born in Krakow. His family was reasonably wealthy. He was fourteen years old when the war broke out. When the Jews in the Krakow ghetto were deported to Plaszow concentration camp, my father's family arranged a payment to a monastery a great deal of money to hide them from the Nazis. The priests took the money, and promptly betrayed my father's family to the Gestapo. My father survived by sheer luck. His family was not so lucky. They went up in smoke -- literally. Priests may have saved Charles' life. Priests were responsible for the destruction of my father's family. See the difference, Mark? And the fact of the matter is that most Jews' experience in Europe during World War II resembles that of my father, not of Charles. You seem to be a kind man, and I do apologize if I have offended you. But I have absolutely no use for the Roman Catholic Church. It is evil, and has created far more misery for Jews than you can possibly imagine. I don't know why. Truth be told, I don't care why. But it is a fact. I do not want a Roman Catholic pope setting one foot in Israel. Do you understand why?

it is human nature to find another minority ally against the majority

What the hell is this yellow crap? YNet - you must do a better job of cleaning up these AP articles before you throw them online. This is obvious pro-Palestinian bias and therefore journalistic garbage. Do you even care?

You can't admit that you were wrong . the only thing you can answer is insults , shows only your "level" . You told it that you are NOT SMART , here we have another proof . You showed IGNORANCE . Can you say where i did ? For the rest of your venom , every critic has the value of who says it , in this case NO VALUE at ALL .

You have probably also read her other posts , she shows only hate , and does not accept that she made errors . She can't see the good side of some people , there were NO good deeds from Christians for her . Thanks for your support .

I do not claim , i WAS SAVED by priests . Your family had a different fate as you "claim" , sad , very sad . Your family was not the only one that disappeared in smoke , but not everyone is so hatefull against people who's predecessors were not helping Jews , whose predecessors as you "claim" have betrayed your family . You can hate those who did it , and i would also do it , but not others who were on the other side . And this , those who were on the "other side" , you can't accept them , they don't exist for you . But yes , it's difficult for a self proclaimed "not smart" to do it .