PHOTO RELEASE

Rome, Italy - Pope Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, responds warmly to the appeal by Isaac Herzog, Israel's Minister of Tourism, to encourage Catholics to visit Israel. Mr. Herzog’s request was delivered personally through his envoy in Rome, Suzanne Klagsbrun. Prior to his warm reception to the request, the Pope has also responded positively to an invitation to visit Israel in 2008.

To know more about visiting Israel, visit www.goisrael.com

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. Ruth Mekel at the Israel Ministry of Tourism Email: ruthmekel@imot.org Phone: (212) 499-5647

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