On Pope Francis' first trip to the Holy Land, May 24-26, his agenda will focus on the search for Christian unity, particularly between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. But inevitably, in a region so rich in history and so fraught with conflict, he will address other urgent issues, including dialogue with Jews and Muslims, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the plight of the Middle East's shrinking Christian population.

The significance of where Jesus was believed to be baptized on the banks of the Jordan River beginning his public ministry is not lost on Arab Christians, deeply aware of their rich religious and cultural heritage.

Indeed, their Middle Eastern ancestors are counted among the world's earliest Christians and the guardians of the faith throughout the ages.

The Pope’s visit to the Holy Land (24-26 May) will be “very brief and very intense” as Paul VI’s visit was back in 1964. Vatican spokesman, Fr. Federico Lombardi, confirmed this at a press conference, explaining that this was the reason why some parts of the trip which tend to be included in papal visits have been left out. Fr. Lombardi outlined some things which Francis and Paul VI’s visits have in common. Starting with the duration of the visit: 3 days.

There are just two weeks to go before Pope Francis’ arrival and the streets of Amman are already brimming with revelatory zeal: on what is going to be Francis’ fourth trip to the Holy Land, his visit to the Hashemite Kingdom is certainly not going to be a mere gesture of politeness, for the sake of following protocol. For King Abdullah II, the Argentinian Successor of Peter’s visit is going to be an event of key importance that will allow him to reaffirm the positive and strategic role Jordan intends to play in the Middle East, a region bloodied by sectarian conflicts.

Four university professors have published an article in “Injury” magazine revealing that the Crucified Man that was wrapped in the Turin Shroud suffered a dislocation of the humerus, the paralysis of one arm and a violent trauma to the neck and chest. There are also traces of a double wrist-nailing.

The Man of the Shroud “underwent an under glenoidal dislocation of the humerus on the right side and lowering of the shoulder, and has a flattened hand and enophthalmos; conditions that have not been described before, despite several studies on the subject.

Cardinals and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints have given their final approval for the late Pope’s healing of an unborn child.

Giovanni Battista Montini's beatification is near: this morning cardinals and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Italian Pope from Brescia, who died in August 1978.

So closely associated is the Blessed Virgin with the month of May that many might be led to believe that Mary has had a lock on that month since her son was a boy.

It’s a good fit, no question, but Mary and May didn’t begin to pair up in a big way until about the time Rossini was writing “The Barber of Seville”—and in roughly the same neighborhood.

One week ago, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (Pope John XXIII) and Karol Jozef Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) were recognized as saints of the Catholic Church, and may God be praised for it!

"Heavenly Father, you never tire of being compassionate and loving. The successor of St. Peter plans to visit the Holy Land sanctified by your Son’s birth, baptism, teaching, death and resurrection. Be with him, sanctify him, and bless him. Spread the mantle of your kindness over every stage of his pilgrimage among us, that one may see in him a believing pilgrim, a wise teacher, and a humble leader".

The forthcoming fourth Pontiff visit to Jordan is but a reward to Jordan’s ongoing efforts to consolidate interfaith coexistence and harmony. But, is Jordan, people and leadership, up to His Holiness’ reward? Are the Jordanian people, relevant authorities and the civil society equally reciprocating the Pontiff’s efforts in bridging the gap between the monotheistic faiths, in addition to advocating number of issues embraced specifically by HH Pope Francis?

But are these issues advocated by HH?