Day 8 - Benedict's final day in Jerusalem; Ecumenical meeting with Greek Orthodox; Church of the Holy Sepulchre; Armenian church of St. James

On the Schedule Today (Friday May 15, 2009)

This post will be updated with news and commentary on the day's events

Jerusalem

• 07.30 - Private Mass in the Chapel of the Apostolic Delegation to Jerusalem
• 09.15 - Ecumenical meeting in the Throne Hall of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
• 10.15 - Visit to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
• 11.10 - Visit to the Armenian patriarchal church of St. James in Jerusalem

Tel Aviv

• 13.30 - Departure ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv Address of the Holy Father
• 14.00 - Departure by plane from the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv (Israel) for Ciampino Airport (Rome)

Rome

• 16.50 - Arrival at Ciampino Airport

Spoken words of Pope Benedict XVI

• Ecumenical meeting in the Throne Hall of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem (May 15, 2009)
• Visit to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (May 15, 2009)
• Visit to the Armenian patriarchal church of St. James in Jerusalem (May 15, 2009)
• Departure ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv (May 15, 2009)

Coverage and Commentary

• Benedict XVI Decries Holocaust's Brutality: Leaving Israel, Reaches Out to Critics (Zenit News)
• Ending Mideast trip, pope to visit Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem Post)
• Citing Auschwitz, Pope Assails Hatred, by Rachel Donadio (New York Times)
• Pope: Jews were 'brutally exterminated' in Holocaust (Haaretz)
• Pope ends Mideast tour with appeal for lasting peace (Deutsche-Welle)
• Pontiff Came as Friend of Israelis, Palestinians; President Peres Notes Papal Statement on Holocaust (Zenit News)