Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis will visit the Holy Land in May, as scheduled, in spite of strikes by Israel’s Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic workers, the Vatican said today.

“The strike may create difficulties but for now there is nothing further as far as were concerned,” Fr Frederico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said, after Israeli media suggested the trip could be cancelled due to industrial action by civil servants in Israel.

The Holy Father’s May 24-26 trip to Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem will mark the 50th anniversary of a landmark trip there by Pope Paul VI in 1964, the first by a Pope in modern times. Pope John Paul II visited in 2000 and Pope Emeritus Benedict went in 2009.

After a seven-month hiatus, the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic workers decided on Tuesday to resume strikes crippled the ministry’s ability to function for much of last year and caused the cancellation of a number of high-level visits. The sanctions were called after the workers rejected proposals for better working conditions put on the table by the Treasury after a seven-month mediation process.

As of Tuesday, the workers claim they will not provide consular services; not service official visits either to Israel from foreign dignitaries or abroad by Israeli officials, including the president and prime minister; will not issue diplomatic passports; and will stop logistical support for political appointees taking up their positions abroad.

—[email protected]