Pope to join Bethlehem 2000 celebration in Palestine

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat received a communique from Pope John Paul II in answer to a message sent by Arafat during last November. In the communique Pope Pope John Paul II accepted the invitation of Arafat to join the international committee on Bethlehem 2000.

The secretary of state at the Vatican, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, said that the Pope has expressed his great happiness for this call, hoping that Bethlehem 2000 project would be successful.

In his communique, Pope John Paul II said, "We always head to Bethlehem," considering it the place where Jesus was born.

Palestinian sources considered the approval of the Pope to join Bethlehem 2000 as enhancing the international status of this project, within the framework of the current celebrations to be held on the 2,000th anniversary of Jesus' birth.