Leading Catholic officials in the Holy Land are voicing opposition to plans to build the world's largest cross in the northern Israel town of Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus.

Catholic leaders, including Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, fear the cross would greatly offend Nazareth's Muslim majority and possibly lead to violence.

The cross is the brainchild of local Arab Christian and Italian Catholic businessmen, who hope the use the dazzling white 180-foot crucifix to draw more tourism to Nazareth.

The plan has yet to be presented to the Nazareth municipality for approval.