The Community of Sant'Egidio delegation that went to the Holy Land to commemorate the meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, on the 50th anniversary, attended the liturgies for the celebration of the Epiphany and of Orthodox Christmas in Bethlehem. It gathered in prayer for peace and the unity of Christians on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre.
The news of Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Jerusalem, announced on these days, was greeted with joy by Christians of all denominations, as well as by representatives of all religious communities encountered in the course of the pilgrimage, they underlined -
The Sant'Egidio delegation met Latin Patriarch Mr. Fouad Twal and Greek orthodox patriarch Teofilos, who donated the Community an image of the Holy Sepulchre, where the meeting with the Pope will take place.
During these days, there were many other meetings with representatives of religious communities, of which we publish the photos. They all have expressed the hope that the commemoration of the first meeting of Jerusalem in 1964 with Pope Francis’ pilgrimage is a significant step towards the unity of Christians, and a hope of peace for the Holy Land .
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| The Catholic liturgy in Bethlehem , in the church of Santa Caterina |
The Orthodox liturgy in the basilica of the Nativity |
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| The meeting with mons. Suheil, Anglican Bishop of the Holy Land and Syria |
At the Chief Rabbinate, with Director General Oded Wiener |
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| With nuncio mon. lazzarotto, in the room where the first meeting between Paul VI and Athenagoras took place. |
With Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Teophilos |
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| With Latin Patriarch mons. Fouad Twal |
At the Holy Sepulchre |
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