Israel has hosted popes with tense excitement since 1964. John Paul II, who visited the Holy Land in 2000, received a fond general welcome. He normalized relations between the Jewish state and the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI, who visited five years ago, was proper -- no more and no less. But the one who is coming on Sunday, the Argentinean Jorge Mario Bergoglio -- Pope Francis -- is different from his predecessors. He belongs to the summer of protest tents on Rothschild Boulevard, to anyone who can be considered "social-minded." This pope is known for surprises. He will arrive with his friend from Argentina, Rabbi Abraham Skorka, but also with Muslim leader Omar Abud. "He likes Jews," says former Israeli Ambassador to Italy Avi Pazner, who was stationed in Rome during the days of John Paul II. Does he love Israel? Maybe. It's not clear. History always weighs down relations between Judaism and Christianity. The Holocaust was a turning point. No more Pius XII, who did not lift a finger to save Jews during World War II, and to this day the church still hasn't opened its books to understand what happened. But not every pope is John Paul II. Ever since his reign, the relationship between the two states has known ups and downs, financial disputes and struggles over property, religious sensitivities such as Jewish opposition to his praying at the location identified as King David's grave, but the room used by Jesus in the Last Supper, the seder before his crucifixion. Francis characterized his visit to the Holy Land, his first trip since being crowned in March 2013 (other than one to Brazil in which he came to continue his predecessor's agenda) as religious only. But it is not lacking in diplomatic hints. He is scheduled to go to Bethlehem by helicopter and there -- and only there -- conduct a Mass, as a gesture to the Palestinians. He will not drive to Jerusalem from Bethlehem but will fly to the airport. This is not random but rather an acknowledgement of two separate national entities. There are also mysteries. Why is he forgoing a tour of Christian holy sites in northern Israel? Of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on the water? Capernaum, where according to Christian tradition, Jesus prayed? Possibly because he will be dealing with practical issues like church assets in Israel and the status of priests and other secular matters. It is in Israel's interest that the visit succeeds. The church is very important in the international arena. Even if it has lost some of its stature in France and Germany as the pendulum of history swings, it is still a central force in other countries like Spain, Italy, Argentina, and Brazil. In an age of boycotts against Israel, every visit like this strengthens the country and leads to a wave of tourism that starts as soon as he arrives. But there are hotheaded extremists who threaten the success of the visit and could turn it into a diplomatic and PR disaster, an attack on the supreme symbol for hundreds of millions whose support is so vital to Israel. The 8,000 police officers called in to protect the pope and his entourage are just hoping to see the light of day next Tuesday.
