Police cars escort the Alitalia's plane of Pope Benedict XVI as it takes position on the tarmac before taking off on May 8, 2009 at Fiumicino airport, near Rome. Pope Benedict XVI started a "pilgrimage" to the Holy Land, facing a daunting array of religious and political challenges on the eight-day trip. Getty Images logo Getty Images 33 months ago

Police cars escort the Alitalia's plane of Pope Benedict XVI as it takes position on the tarmac before taking off on May 8, 2009 at Fiumicino airport, near Rome. Pope Benedict XVI started a "pilgrimage" to the Holy Land, facing a daunting array of religious and political challenges on the eight-day trip.

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