Holy Land prelates will accompany
Benedict XVI to the Rome Synagogue
JERUSALEM, Jan. 12 (SIR) - “The Catholics of the Holy Land, too, will be with Benedict XVI on his visit to Rome’s Synagogue” on Sunday, January 17th, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Mons. Fouad Twal, told SIR today, after a meeting with US and European Union bishops visiting the Holy Land till Jan. 14.
Patriarch Twal, representing the Catholic community of the Holy Land; Mons. Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio in the Holy Land; and Mons. Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo, the Patriarch's vicar for Galilee, will accompany the Pope on this historic visit.
"I hope this visit will help our inter-religious relations. It is a gesture we make with the heart to show our respect for the Israeli community as well. Hopefully, this gesture will have a positive impact on Israeli public opinion and in Jerusalem”, the patriarch said.
Father David Neuhaus, patriarchal vicar for the Hebrew-speaking Catholic communities said: "This visit is very symbolic, even if Jews and Catholics may not be accustomed yet to such visits. It is significant that the Patriarch and the Nuncio will be with the Pope, because it means that the Church of the Holy Land is part of the universal Church, which has great concern for the fate of the Middle Eastern Christian communities. Such a visit might help, with time, to change the mentality of the future generations”.
A very thoughtful move on the part of the Pope. This gives the visit more symbolic significance beyond what it means for the Church in Rome and for the Vatican.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 11/01/2010 15:25]