New York  - The World Jewish Congress welcomed on Monday the planned visit to the Holy Land in May by Pope Benedict XVI, suggesting that his presence would ease some of the controversies between the Vatican and Israel.

Benedict announced on Sunday his intention to make the pilgrimage from May 8 to 15, starting with a stop in Jordan and then Israel and Palestinian territories. It would be the third visit by a Roman Catholic pontiff to the Holy Land.

In Israel, Benedict will visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. Pope Paul VI visited the region in January 1964 and John Paul II in March 2000.

"This important visit will be warmly welcomed by Israel and the Jewish people," said Ronald S Lauder, president of the New York-based group.

Lauder said Benedict's scheduled visit to the Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem will be "very significant, in light of the controversy concerning Bishop Williamson and the Society of Saint Pius X."

"We also note with appreciation that the Vatican is considering opening its archives in order to allow for further research to be carried out on the role of Pope Pius XII during the Holocaust," he said. "This would shed much light on the issue and help resolve unanswered questions for all concerned." The Vatican has called for the beatification of wartime Pope Pius XII.

Lauder used the opportunity to urge the Vatican to boycott the second UN Durban Review Conference to be held in April in Geneva. Several countries, including Italy, Canada and the United States, have decided to stay away because of strong anti-Israel slant by the conference, which is called to discuss racism. (dpa)