PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE

Wednesday, 10 December 2008

VATICAN ADVANCE DELEGATION MEETS WITH PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE OFFICIALS IN
ORDER TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE VISIT BY POPE BENEDICT XVI TO ISRAEL;
PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE WAITING FOR OFFICIAL VATICAN DECLARATION REGARDING THE
VISIT

A special Vatican delegation responsible for preparing Pope Benedict XVI's
official visits around the world, today (Wednesday), 10.12.08, at President
Shimon Peres's Jerusalem Residence, met with President's Residence
Director-General Efrat Duvdevani, President Peres's senior advisers,
representatives from the Foreign, Religious Services and Interior
ministries, and officials from Unit for VIP Security in order to discuss a
comprehensive plan for a visit by Pope Benedict XVI, who is considering the
possibility of visiting Israel in 2009.

It will be recalled that President Peres, during his September 2007 visit to
Italy, invited Pope Benedict XVI to make an official visit to Israel, and
said that it would be a great honor for Israel to host him and strengthen
the message of peace, reconciliation and hope in the entire Middle East. At
the same meeting, the Pope told President Peres that he would be pleased to
visit Israel. Details of the visit are now being discussed. President
Peres sent an official invitation to Pope Benedict; all are now waiting for
an official Vatican declaration regarding the planned visit.

Israel attributes great importance to the visit and is preparing to receive
Pope Benedict XVI with full ceremony and official events that will
strengthen ties between the State of Israel, the Holy See and the entire
Christian world.