First publication: Israel prepares for the Pope's visit

Tiberias is beginning to prepare for the Pope's visit, which, according to Mayor Yossi Naveh, is scheduled for 2030, marking 2,000 years since the baptism of Jesus. In a conversation with "Maariv," Naveh revealed that a dialogue has already begun with the Ministry of Tourism and that the city has started mapping out the needs ahead of the event and the expected arrival of hundreds of thousands and even millions of pilgrims to the North.

"The Pope's visit is supposed to be in 2030, because it is a milestone in Christianity. If there are no wars and no geopolitical crises, we expect the North will need to prepare for millions of pilgrim visitors," says Naveh.

Naveh stated that initial preparations have already begun: "Yesterday I sat with the Ministry of Tourism. We are already starting to map out all the needs." According to him, municipal preparation will not be enough, and he is demanding state involvement.

"I have no doubt that immediately after the elections, we will need a government decision on the Pope's visit. It is more than just a headline; it involves millions of people coming here during that year," he emphasized.

Among the issues Naveh places at the center of preparation are upgrading infrastructure, increasing the supply of hotel rooms, adapting the visitor experience, and regional coordination around the Sea of Galilee. He advocates for the establishment of a national steering committee involving government ministries and local authorities. "We need a government decision and significant budgets. The Treasury needs to understand the economic significance of this whole story," he says.

One of the main challenges is the number of hotel rooms. Naveh says that three hotels in Tiberias—Ir Kinneret, Sironit, and Elizabeth—have already received permits, which should add about a thousand rooms. Additionally, other hotels are in the stages of construction or licensing in the Sea of Galilee area, and a significant hotel reserve is being promoted in Migdal.

Naveh warns that although the event is four years away, time is short regarding infrastructure and planning: "We need to start tomorrow morning. We are currently not prepared for such an event, and we are not taking advantage of such opportunities." He mentioned the visit of Pope John Paul II in 2000, arguing that this time it is necessary to prepare more thoroughly.

It should be noted that at this stage, no official announcement has been published by the Vatican confirming the Pope's visit to Israel in 2030. However, the State of Israel has already begun preparations for the 2,000th anniversary of the baptism of Jesus, anticipating a massive influx of pilgrims.