Papal mass aims to encourage Israeli Christians

Pope Benedict XVIs first public Mass of the apostolic voyage took place in the Kidron Valley, near the Garden of Gethsemane. A warm welcome was given by local Christian communities and pilgrims from all over the world."I am very happy to be here. I waited a long time," said one young Spaniard. In Jerusalem, Christians represent a small minority. Not everyone was able to attend the celebration for security reasons, but the Pope expressed his closeness, reaffirming, as on other occasions, that in the Holy Land there is room for all. "I am very happy because the Pope has met our expectations and said that our presence here is very important. [] We want everyone to understand that Jerusalem is for all, for the three religions -- not only for Muslims, Jews or Christians." The message of the Pope was greeted with enthusiasm, especially when Benedict XVI reiterated that the emigration of Christians is a sign of spiritual and cultural impoverishment. He urged the authorities to respect and support the Christian presence and expressed the Holy Sees solidarity and love for those who live in this land, where the peace that is a gift of God continues to be threatened by selfishness, conflict, division and the burden of past offences.Production: Canção Nova

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• Kidrom
• Gethsemene
• Christian
• Holy
• Land
• Israel