Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center is adorned with Vatican flags. At this location the Pope will host a meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu. The Pope will also visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, Jerusalem's Old City is adorned with Vatican flags and banners. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police allow Jewish prayer at the Tomb of King David in spite of violent protests and arrests that took place during the night. Recent weeks featured controversy over alleged negotiations between the Vatican and the Israeli government in which custody of the Cenacle, the room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion, will be signed off to the Vatican. The Tomb of King David lies beneath the Cenacle.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, Christian devotees pray in the crypt of the Dormition Abbey Church, on Mount Zion. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center is adorned with Vatican flags. At this location the Pope will host a meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu. The Pope will also visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, Jerusalem's Old City is adorned with Vatican flags and banners. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

The Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion as viewed through a fence.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, Christian devotees pray in the crypt of the Dormition Abbey Church, on Mount Zion. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center is adorned with Vatican flags. At this location the Pope will host a meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu. The Pope will also visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center is adorned with Vatican flags. At this location the Pope will host a meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu. The Pope will also visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, the Dormition Abbey bell tower on Mount Zion is adorned with Vatican flags. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, Christian devotees pray in the crypt of the Dormition Abbey Church, on Mount Zion. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, Jerusalem's Old City is adorned with Vatican flags and banners. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.

Preparations for Pope Visit in Jerusalem

Hours ahead of Pope Francis' arrival to Israel, police deployed in Jerusalem's Old City in large numbers barricading sensitive areas much to the displeasure of locals as well as confused and frustrated tourists. The Pope will visit the holy sites, meet with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, President Peres, PM Netanyahu, lay a wreath at Mount Herzl and visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.