Israel’s postal service issues stamps of Christian holy sites ahead of pope visit

Israel issues special stamps ahead of pope visit

JERUSALEM — The Israeli postal service has issued a dozen special stamps marking the upcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Holy Land.

The stamps, which will be made available to the public on Monday, feature 12 Christian holy sites in Israel that the pope will visit during his May 11-15 tour.

Israel Post says it will later issue another dozen stamps of the pope himself visiting those sites.

Israel Post president, Avi Hochman, says the stamps are meant to “honor to the pope.”

The visit will be Benedict’s first as pope. His predecessor, Pope John Paul II, visited the Holy Land in 2000.