The Jerusalem District Police have completed their preparations for the visit of Pope Francis I to Israel: Thousands of police officers, Border Guard soldiers, and police reinforcements, under the command of District Commander Major General Yossi Prienti, will be deployed from Sunday morning until the end of the visit on Monday, to maintain public order and security and to direct and enforce traffic regulations, while attempting to minimize disruption to the city's daily life as much as possible.
• An information center will be opened to respond to public inquiries starting Saturday night, May 24, 2014, until the end of the visit by calling 1-700-553-100.
During the days of the visit, extensive security measures will be taken and parking of vehicles will be prohibited on the following streets:
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Chaim Yasky, Aharon Katzir, Hebrew University Blvd., Yitzhak Hanadiv, Derech HaOpel, Ma'ale Hashalom, Jerusalem Brigade, Yitzhak Kariv, Agron, Gaza, Herzog, Zalman Shneur, Shmuel Beit, Bezalel Bezeq, Herzl from Shmuel Beit St. to Yad Vashem, King George from Smolenskin St. to KKL, Arlozorov, the President, Shlomo HaMelech, Paratrooper Brigade, Jaffa from Tzahal Square to Jerusalem Brigade, Raba' El Adaviya, Martin Buber, A-Tor, Shmuel Ben Adia and Derech Jericho.
Vehicles parked on these streets will be towed to the parking lots in Bell Garden and Ammunition Hill.
In addition, the following streets will be closed to traffic intermittently:
• Sunday 25.5.14 - Mount Scopus Tunnel, Chaim Yasky, Aharon Katzir, Hebrew University Boulevard, Yitzhak Hanadiv, Martin Buber, Shmuel Ben Adia, Jericho Road, Ophel Road, Ma'ale Hashalom, Jerusalem Brigade, Yitzhak Kariv and Jaffa Gate.
• Monday 26.5.14 – Mount Scopus Tunnel, Chaim Yasky, Aharon Katzir, Hebrew University Boulevard, Yitzhak Hanadiv, Martin Buber, Raba El Adavia, Shmuel Ben Adia, Jericho Road, Ma'ale Mota Gur, Derech HaOpel, Ma'ale Hashalom, Jerusalem Brigade, Yitzhak Kariv, Paratrooper Brigade, Agron, King George, King Solomon, Keren Hayesod, Gaza, Herzog, Zalman Shneur, Shmuel Bate, Bezalel Bezeq, HaZichon St., Ein Kerem St., Arlozorov and President Boulevard.
Traffic disruptions and road closures are expected, along with traffic being directed to alternative roads that will remain open to traffic: Begin Highway, Golda Meir Boulevard, Yigal Yadin, Hebron Road, Haim Bar Lev, Eshkol Boulevard, Bar Ilan, Haneviim, Golomb, Herzog.
The District Police are doing everything they can to minimize disruption to residents' daily lives. The public is asked to be patient, follow police instructions, and monitor traffic reports and road closures that will be posted on the police website.
• Western Wall Plaza It will be closed to visitors on Monday until 10:30.
Shuttles for Western Wall worshippers will depart from the Karta parking lot between 05:00-05:30, and return from the Western Wall between 06:15-06:30.
Entrance to the Western Wall prayer during visiting hours will be possible from Hashelshelet Street and Hagai Street.
Detailed itinerary for the Pope's visit:
• Sunday, May 25, 2014:
08:15 Farewell to Jordan at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman.
08:30 Helicopter takeoff from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman to Bethlehem.
09:20 Landing at the heliport in Bethlehem.
09:30 Reception ceremony at the presidential palace in Bethlehem. Courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority (Abu Mazen).
10:00 Meeting with the Palestinian authorities. Speech by the Pope.
11:00 Mass at the Manger Square in Bethlehem. Homily by the Pope. Prayer to the Queen of Heaven. Address by the Pope.
1:30 PM Lunch with families from Palestine at the Franciscan Monastery "Casa Nova" in Bethlehem.
3:00 PM Private visit to the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem.
15:20 Blessing of children from the refugee camps of Deheisha, Aida and Beit Jabrin, at the "Phoenix" center of the Deheisha refugee camp.
15:45 Farewell to the State of Palestine, at the Bethlehem heliport.
16:00 Helicopter takeoff from Bethlehem Heliport to Ben Gurion Airport.
16:30 Reception ceremony, at Ben Gurion Airport. Speech by the Pope.
17:15 Transfer by helicopter to Jerusalem.
17:45 Landing at the Mount Scopus helipad in Jerusalem.
18:15 Private meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, at the Papal Legation in Jerusalem. Signing of a joint declaration.
7:00 PM Ecumenical meeting, commemorating 50 years since the meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, at the Church of the Resurrection (the Holy Sepulchre). Speech by the Pope.
8:15 PM Dinner with the patriarchs and bishops and the papal entourage, at the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem.
• Monday, May 26, 2014:
08:15 Visit to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, at the council building in the mosque complex. Speech by the Pope.
09:10 Visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
09:45 Wreath laying on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
10:00 Visit to Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Speech by the Pope.
10:45 Courtesy visit to the two chief rabbis at Heichal Shlomo, next to the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. Speech by the Pope.
11:45 Courtesy visit to the President of the State of Israel, at the President's House in Jerusalem. Speech by the Pope.
1:00 PM Private meeting with the Prime Minister of Israel, at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem.
1:30 PM Lunch with the Pope's entourage, at the Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem.
15:30 Private visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, in the building next to the Orthodox Church of the "People of Galilee" on the Mount of Olives.
4:00 PM Meeting with priests, monks, nuns and members of the priesthood, at the Church of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Speech by the Pope.
17:20 Mass with the bishops of the Holy Land and the papal entourage, in the Last Supper Room in Jerusalem. Sermon by the Pope.
19:30 Transfer by helicopter, from the Mount Scopus helipad in Jerusalem, to Ben Gurion Airport.
20:00 Farewell to the State of Israel, at Ben Gurion Airport.
