{UAH} Pope Francis arrives to a heroic welcome in the Holy Land

He arrived there yesterday! First leg, Aman ( Jordan) where he was

received by the Crown Prince and the cabinet and diplomatic corps

and religious authorities. After the tarmac protocol he was driven 

to the Royal Palace where the King and the Queen were waiting for him.

He was served with a traditional cup of coffee before the beginning of an

official discussion in which the Pope thanked the authorities for the big work

done in receiving the four million refugees on their territory, and he called on the

international community to help Jordan in this big task.

Later on he was cheered by countless thousands as he wasdriven to the main stadium

where he celebrated mass before tens of thousands of people. In his homily he called

for peace in the entire region. This call was indeed very significant because it is the real

message the whole Middle East wants to hear now especially as it's sounded by this Pope

who is a very popular international figure and who is said to be a person whom the whole world

listens to in full eagerness and with great admiration. And the region .expects to see things taking

to a change thanks to this visit He concluded the day with a visit to River Jordan at the spot where 

Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.

Today Sunday the Pontiff will move on to Bethlehm.where he will received another hero's welcome 

from the Palestinians who look to the Pope's visit as a sign of world recognition of their newly born state.

The Pope has indicated that the three main monotheistic religions, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism can

exist very amicably in the Holy Land, a statement which has been very well received all over the Middle East.

And Israel expects a lot from him when he visits the country on the final leg of his pilgrimage.

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo (Paris / France )