Pope Benedict to visit Holy Land in May

? Pope Benedict XVI said Sunday he would visit the Holy Land from May 8-15 in the first papal trip to the area since 2000.

The visit would be the second official trip by a pope to Israel.

Announcing the dates of the long-planned pilgrimage, the pope said he would go to sites Jesus visited and would pray for “the precious gift of unity and peace for the Middle East and all of humanity.”

Benedict told a crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the traditional noontime blessing that he was asking the faithful for their spiritual support for the Holy Land pilgrimage and a trip to Africa from March 17-23.