Visit of Pope Francis to the Holy Land

VISIT OF POPE FRANCIS TO THE HOLY LAND, 2014
STATE MEDAL OF ISRAEL

The historic visit of Pope Francis to the Holy Land is commemorated on a State Medal of Israel released by Israel Coins and Medals Corp.

Pope Francis is the fourth Pope to come to the Holy Land. His visit on May 25-26, 2014, comes fifty years after the visit of Pope Paul VI in 1964 and 20 years after the signing of the Agreement establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the Holy See, in 1994. The visit marks the deepening relationship between the Catholic Church, Israel and the Jewish people. Included in the agenda is a prayer at the Western Wall, a meeting with the Chief Rabbis of Israel, a visit to Yad Vashem, the world Holocaust Memorial Center, a festive interfaith event with President Shimon Peres at the President's Residence and a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

First Pope from the Americas, Pope Francis, aged 76, was born in Argentina as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, ordained Priest in 1969 and Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998.
He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II and elected Pope on March 13, 2013, taking the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Aside from his attendance at the World Youth Day in 2013, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the visit to the Holy Land is Pope Francis’ first visit outside of Italy.

The medal depicts Pope Francis looking towards the buildings of the Old City of Jerusalem. Above, in the Jerusalem skies, is a Dove of Peace.

Design: David Harel

Minting: THE HOLY LAND MINT