At the invitation of the Pontifical Mission in Jerusalem, a good number of Christians and Muslim Palestinians met with more than twenty Catholic Bishops representing the U.S A. Catholic Bishops Conference at the Mary Doty Garden in Bethlehem. The aim of the meeting was to pray together, Christians and Muslims, for justice and peace.
Mr. Sami El-Yousif, regional Director of the Pontifical Mission and Mrs. Vera Baboun, mayor of Bethlehem, delivered the welcoming speeches and spoke about the deteriorating situation in Palestine and in Bethlehem under the Israeli occupation. They were followed by a short speech by Mr. Mousa Darwish, Vice Director of al-Liqa Center and a prayer by Sheikh ‘Abd al-Majid ‘Ata, the Mufti of Bethlehem governorate. Both of them stressed the importance of Christian Muslim dialogue and the need for just peace in the Holy Land.
They were followed by a thankful word by the representative of the Catholic Bishops and a prayer for peace. At the end Mr. Sami El-Yousif thanked all participants and a special thank was for Al-Liqa Center for his help in organizing the event.
This was followed by a reception offered by the Pontifical Mission – Jerusalem.
