The Pope will announce Sunday that he is going to visit Israel, Israeli sources said Saturday night. Pope Benedict XVI will make the announcement Sunday at 1 PM Israel time, and President Shimon Peres will make a similar announcement at the same time. Peres invited Benedict last year, and the Pope will come to Israel as his guest.
The Pope is expected to arrive on May 11 and the visit will extend five days. Besides Catholic sites in Israel, he will also visit Jordan while in the region. Israeli police have already begun preparing for the visit, and 10,000 officers will be involved in various aspects of the effort to ensure the pope's safety, dubbed by police "Operation White Robe."