SAT-7 to Broadcast Portions of Pope Benedict XVI's first visit Middle East Trip

Nicosia, Cyprus, May 7, 2009: The Pontiff’s visit is significant not only for the many Arab Catholics in the region, but also for the entire Christian community of the Arab world. “This is a very important visit. The Pope is head of the largest church in the world and can use his significant political influence to raise awareness and improve the lives of suffering Christians in the region,” says David Harder, SAT-7 Communications Manager.

According to his public schedule, upon arrival in Jordan on May 8, the Pontiff will visit a Christian center and then will meet with King Abdullah and Queen Rania at the Royal Palace. On May 9, he will celebrate a private Mass and then visit an ancient basilica on Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have first seen the Promised Land. Later the Pope will meet with Muslim religious leaders, diplomats and university officials in front of Al-Hussein bin Talal mosque in Amman. He will hold evening prayers at the Greek-Melkite Cathedral of Saint-Georges. The Pontiff will remain in Jordan until May 11th.

This weekend, SAT-7 will be broadcasting portions of the Pontiff’s visit to Jordan, provided live by the Vatican’s broadcasting service, during a talk show that will be hosted by a Lebanese priest and a local Evangelical Pastor.

Later next week, SAT-7 intends to produce reports about the Pope’s visit to Christian sites in Bethlehem and Nazareth. These reports will air in SAT-7’s program “Nafitha (Windows) around the World.”

The live SAT-7 broadcasts of Pope Benedict’s visit to Jordan are scheduled for:

- Saturday May 9th between
o 9:00 am and 1:00 pm
o 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm

- Sunday May 10th between
o 9:30 am and 12:30 pm
o 5:00 mp and 6:30 pm

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Launched in 1996, SAT-7 is a Christian television service created by and for the People of the Middle East and North Africa with U.S. headquarters in Easton, Md. SAT-7 makes Christ's message of hope available to every home in the Middle East. Each week between 9-10 million people tune into the channels (Intermedia research, 2004 – 2006). Broadcast in three languages—Arabic, Farsi and Turkish—SAT-7 can be viewed via satellite in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, much of Central Asia and worldwide at www.SAT7.org. For more information about SAT-7 go to www.sat7usa.org (English), www.sat7.com (Arabic) and www.sat7PARS.com (Farsi).


CONTACT:
SAT-7 USA
(410) 770-9804 or (866) 744-7287
usa@sat7.org

Date: 7/16/2009 4:17:58 PM