The Beast in the Middle East: Day 2 (So, who IS the Beast? More on that later)

Today is the last day of Pope Benedict's time in mostly-Muslim Jordan, and tomorrow he arrives in mostly-Jewish Israel. And while he was fairly unpopular in Jordan, Israel may be home of the largest security risk and lowest approval rating Benedict will face during his entire papacy. Benedict has made a few small missteps when it comes to Jewish-Catholic relations, from his past with the Hitler Youth, to earlier this year when he revoked the excommunication of a bishop who denies the Holocaust. So now Israel is fearful of an attempt on the pope's life.The solution? Four German armored cars will be replacing the pope mobile for most of the Israel visit, and there's been discussion of arresting some more serious Israeli zealots ahead of time, as a preemptive strike. Rolling through town in armored German vehicles and arresting known Jews even if they've done nothing wrong... sounds familiar somehow, but it'll probably be fine.
(source=The Times Online)

Holy Land Ho!

Hello and welcome,

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Jordan today for the beginning of his week-long tour of the Middle East. And while he's not using the pope mobile for much of the trip (it's not safe enough), he will have an 80,000-man security force ("Operation White Cloak"). Not to mention his most powerful weapon: a message of peace. For the next week, we'll be bringing you daily Vaticanews briefs on all the zany antics the pope gets himself into as he moves through Jordan, Israel, and other war-torn nations in which Catholics are a minority.

Stay tuned

-You and What Productions