WASHINGTON, May 11 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI wants to make his eight-day visit to Jordan and Israel a powerful symbol of his determination to reduce hatred in the world and build better ties between the Roman Catholic Church he heads and the other great monotheistic religions of Islam and Judaism. But the times are against him.

UPI Almanac for Friday, April 24, 2009.

UPI Almanac for Sunday, April 19, 2009.

VATICAN CITY, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Jewish groups say a move by Pope Benedict XVI to revoke the excommunication of a bishop who denies Nazi gas chambers existed will harm Vatican relations.

JERUSALEM, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI has accepted an invitation from President Shimon Peres to visit Israel in May, sources say.

VATICAN CITY, June 17 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the Vatican said Tuesday that Pope Pius XII, controversial for his wartime failure to speak out on the Nazis, won't be beatified soon.

UPI Almanac for Monday, June 9, 2008.

UPI Almanac for Wednesday, June 4, 2008.

VATICAN CITY, June 2 (UPI) -- Officials at Vatican City say they have received an overwhelming amount of evidence to support elevating the late Pope John Paul II to sainthood.