Pope expected to visit Holy Land

Pope Benedict is expected to visit Holy Land sites in Israel and the Palestinian territories next year, Vatican sources said today.

The trip would be Benedict's first to the Holy Land since his election in 2005. Two of his predecessors in modern times, John Paul II and Paul VI, visited the Holy Land.

Sources said the timeframe had been slotted out for spring but no specific dates had been set. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said the pope had accepted an invitation by Israeli President Shimon Peres to visit in May.

A Vatican spokesman said he could not comment on the Haaretz report but Vatican sources said discussions were under way and the trip would "most likely" take place next spring.