VATICAN CITY - Pilgrims waved a buon viaggio banner in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, wishing Pope John Paul II well on his trip this week to Egypt - and to the spot where tradition says God spoke to Moses from a burning bush.
John Paul's trip, which begins Thursday, will be his first to Egypt. It is the kickoff of the pontiff's 2000 Holy Year pilgrimages to ancient biblical sites.
He intends to pray at what tradition says is the Mount Sinai site of the burning bush, where God commanded Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, the Vatican missionary news service Fides said Sunday.
John Paul made no mention of his upcoming trip during his regular Sunday appearance before pilgrims in St. Peter's Square. He seemed strong and alert, waving at cheers from the crowd below.
The pontiff is to arrive in Cairo on Thursday, greeted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Catholic bishops, Fides said.
In Cairo, John Paul will visit the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt and the imam, or cleric, of Al-Azhar University, Sheik Mohammed Sayed Tantawi. Tantawi is the highest authority of the world's Sunni Muslims.
"The symbolic force of the event is very great," Ali al Samman of the school's commission for Muslim-Christian dialogue was quoted as telling Fides. "Even if it is a visit of protocol, it will be much more effective than talking."
Friday, the pope will attend a Mass to be celebrated in French, Arab and Coptic in Cairo's sports stadium. A celebration will follow in a tiny Coptic cathedral, with all leaders of Egypt's Christian denominations expected to take part.
Christians make up an estimated 11 percent of Egypt's 63 million people. The vast majority of Christians there are Coptic Orthodox.
On Saturday, John Paul flies to the 6th-century St. Catherine's monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. The pope plans to pray at the site of the burning bush and preside over a prayer meeting for hundreds of young people in the monastery's garden, Fides said.
The pope has previously stressed "the purely religious, not political" nature of his travels into the heart of Middle East conflicts this year. From March 20 to 26, he will visit sites in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Mitch Battros
Producer - Earth Changes TV
http://www.earthchangesTV.com