A Vatican spokesperson doused rumors that Pope Francis is planning to visit Israel in March, but left the door open for a visit in the future.
Speaking to Army Radio on Monday morning, the spokesperson said that, "the Pope is eager to visit the Holy Land and Israel, but at the moment, we don\’t know when exactly that visit will be."
Reports that the Pope had made plans to visit Israel in March originated in the Italian media on Sunday and were picked up by Israel\’s Channel 2 News.
According to the Channel 2 report, the pope told his close friend, Argentinian Rabbi Abraham Skorka, of his lifelong dream to visit the Holy Land, and of his intentions to visit Israel and Bethlehem.
Numerous Israeli emissaries to the Vatican over the last year, including Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and President Shimon Peres, have made open-ended invitations to the Pope to visit Israel.
In each occasion, the Pope or a Vatican spokesperson have expressed Pope Francis\’ willingness and excitement to oblige the inviters.
After Edelstein\’s visit last week, during which he extended an offer to personally host the Pope, the Pope responded, “I’ll come, I’ll come."
According to the Vatican spokesperson, Edelstein and the rest of Israel will have to wait at least a little bit longer.