By HAIM SHAPIRO
JERUSALEM (November 17) - If Pope John Paul II does come to Israel during the year 2000, it is likely the date of his visit will be
March 25, which marks the Roman Catholic festival of Annunciation, a Roman Catholic source told The Jerusalem Post yesterday.
He was speaking in connection with the official publication by the local church of its calendar for the millennium.
Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, speaking at a press conference marking the event, at first refused to specify any date. "Every day he
is welcome," Sabbah said.
However later he singled out three days as possible dates: Easter (April 23), Annunciation (when the angel Gabriel appeared to
Mary), and Assumption (August 15; when Mary ascended to heaven).
Of the three, however, it would be highly unusual for the pope to be away from Rome on Easter, and Sabbah himself noted that
weather was one of the considerations, making it unlikely that an ailing pontiff would visit in midsummer.
At the same time, Sabbah said it was the political situation which was preventing a visit by the pope.
"The situation of conflict in the land is the one main reason for which Rome cannot decide if he will come," the patriarch said.
John Paul II has expressed a keen desire to visit Jerusalem as part of the millennium celebrations, but has not announced concrete
plans to do so.
Sabbah added the signing of the Wye agreement had appeared to create a more positive atmosphere, but later, speaking to
reporters, he said it was up to Israel to take the steps necessary to bring peace to the region.
"The Palestinians have done everything they can," Sabbah said. "All they have left is to die."
Concerning fears that the country would become overcrowded with pilgrims who could not be accommodated, Father Robert Fortin,
general secretariat for the millennium, said no agent would send people without knowing that they had a place to sleep.
Even young people would come mostly in groups, with arrangements made in advance, he said.
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