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Pope celebrates Mass in Nazareth Pope celebrates Mass in Nazareth
(about 1 hour later)
Tens of thousands of Christians are taking part in a huge, outdoor Mass in Nazareth being celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI on his Holy Land tour.Tens of thousands of Christians are taking part in a huge, outdoor Mass in Nazareth being celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI on his Holy Land tour.
The event in the town in northern Israel, where Jesus is believed to have lived, is expected to draw the largest crowds during the Pope's five-day trip.The event in the town in northern Israel, where Jesus is believed to have lived, is expected to draw the largest crowds during the Pope's five-day trip.
The Catholic Church head will then meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after backing a Palestinian homeland.The Catholic Church head will then meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after backing a Palestinian homeland.
Mr Netanyahu does not support the idea of an independent Palestinian state.Mr Netanyahu does not support the idea of an independent Palestinian state.
Crowds waved flags to greet the pontiff as he arrived in his white popemobile in the predominantly Israeli-Arab town of Nazareth.Crowds waved flags to greet the pontiff as he arrived in his white popemobile in the predominantly Israeli-Arab town of Nazareth.
A 40,000-seat amphitheatre has been built specially for the event at Mount Precipice, where the Bible says an angry mob tried to hurl Jesus off a cliff.A 40,000-seat amphitheatre has been built specially for the event at Mount Precipice, where the Bible says an angry mob tried to hurl Jesus off a cliff.
Pope Benedict XVI is later due to visit the Church of the Annunciation, said to mark the spot where the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she would give birth to Jesus. Pope Benedict is later due to visit the Church of the Annunciation, said to mark the spot where the Angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she would give birth to Jesus.
The event comes a day after the Pope visited a refugee camp in Bethlehem in the shadow of a concrete section of Israel's West Bank barrier.The event comes a day after the Pope visited a refugee camp in Bethlehem in the shadow of a concrete section of Israel's West Bank barrier.
Call for homelandCall for homeland
He delivered what correspondents say was one of his strongest expressions of support for the Palestinians, offering his backing for Palestinians' right to a "homeland". In Bethlehem, he delivered what correspondents say was one of his strongest expressions of support for the Palestinians, offering his backing for Palestinians' right to a "homeland".
POPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon PeresTuesday Visits the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. Celebrates Holy Mass in Josaphat ValleyWednesday Visits Bethlehem, visits refugees, meets Mahmoud AbbasThursday Mass in Nazareth, talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets FranciscansFriday Meets Orthodox Christian leaders, departs Itinerary: Israel and West Bank Guide: Jerusalem's holy sites Pope in the Mid East: The issuesPOPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon PeresTuesday Visits the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. Celebrates Holy Mass in Josaphat ValleyWednesday Visits Bethlehem, visits refugees, meets Mahmoud AbbasThursday Mass in Nazareth, talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets FranciscansFriday Meets Orthodox Christian leaders, departs Itinerary: Israel and West Bank Guide: Jerusalem's holy sites Pope in the Mid East: The issues
Pope Benedict XVI called the barrier a symbol of "stalemate" between Israel and the Palestinians. The Pope called the barrier a symbol of "stalemate" between Israel and the Palestinians.
He told the refugees that his heart went out to families divided by detention and restrictions on freedom of movement, a reference to Israeli military control of the West Bank.He told the refugees that his heart went out to families divided by detention and restrictions on freedom of movement, a reference to Israeli military control of the West Bank.
"It is understandable that you often feel frustrated. Your legitimate aspirations for permanent homes, for an independent Palestinian state, remain unfulfilled.""It is understandable that you often feel frustrated. Your legitimate aspirations for permanent homes, for an independent Palestinian state, remain unfulfilled."
Earlier he said he prayed for a lifting of Israel's embargo on Gaza, but also urged Palestinian to resist the "temptation" to resort to violence. Earlier he said he prayed for a lifting of Israel's embargo on Gaza, but also urged Palestinians to resist the "temptation" to resort to violence.
One of the aims of the pontiff's visit is to preserve a diminishing Christian presence in the Holy Land.One of the aims of the pontiff's visit is to preserve a diminishing Christian presence in the Holy Land.
The issue is likely to feature during his visit to Nazareth. The town is home to many of the 120,000 Arab Christians who make up about 10% of the fifth of Israel's population that is descended from Arabs who stayed in Israel after its creation in 1948.The issue is likely to feature during his visit to Nazareth. The town is home to many of the 120,000 Arab Christians who make up about 10% of the fifth of Israel's population that is descended from Arabs who stayed in Israel after its creation in 1948.
The German-born Pope's visit has sparked criticism from Jewish groups, who said he did not go far enough in his speech at the Yad Vashem holocaust memorial.The German-born Pope's visit has sparked criticism from Jewish groups, who said he did not go far enough in his speech at the Yad Vashem holocaust memorial.
He condemned anti-Semitism, but did not directly address the issue of the Catholic Church's silence during the Holocaust, or his own - albeit unwilling - membership of Hitler Youth. He condemned anti-Semitism, but did not directly address the issue of the Catholic Church's silence during the Holocaust, or his own - albeit unwilling - membership of the Hitler Youth.