Pope's Holy Land trip overshadowed by politics
When Pope Francis sets foot in the Holy Land at the end of the month, he'll be treading on diplomatic eggshells at virtually every stop.
Israeli-Palestinian politics are just one of the many sensitive issues Vatican officials are navigating. Other sore points are incidents of anti-Christian vandalism in Israel, lingering tensions between the Holy See and the Jewish community, historic disputes with rival Christian denominations and closed-door real estate negotiations with Israel.
Vandals in Israel have recently scribbled anti-Christian graffiti on several Christian holy sites and properties. Israel's internal security agency says it fears there could be more such attacks, and local Vatican officials have urged Israel to safeguard Christian holy sites ahead of the pope's visit.
The vandalism "poisons the atmosphere of coexistence" surrounding the pope's visit, said Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land.
Every stop on Francis' itinerary carries symbolic weight and tiptoes around political sensitivities.
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