A Panel titled:<\/p>\n
\u201cA Reading of His Holiness Pope Francis\u2019 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, 24-26 May 2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Panelists:<\/p>\n
1) H.E. Bishop William Shomali, Latin Patriarchal Vicar in Jerusalem and Palestine
\n2) H.E. Mr. \u2018Issa Qassissiya, Palestine\u2019s Ambassador to the Holy See
\nModerator: Dr. Geries S. Khoury<\/p>\n
Wednesday, 4 June 2014, at 6:00 P.m., at Al-Liqa\u2019s Lecture Hall<\/p>\n
Bethlehem<\/p>\n
Al-Liqa\u2019s Lecture Hall was crowded with personalities, males and females, secular and religious, from the Bethlehem and Jerusalem Governorates. Moderator Dr. Geries S. Khoury welcomed the panelists and all attendees. He added that it is indeed a blessing, the visit of His Holiness to the Holy Land. The context of Pope Francis\u2019 upbringing in Argentina is similar to the Palestinian situation in as far as marginalization suppressive and poverty. The situation of his parishioners in Argentina is similar to that of the Palestinians. That is why he wanted to do his pilgrimage to the Holy Land and to his parishioners and to see their miseries. He prayed and he will continue to pray for peace and justice for all people in general and the people in the Holy Land in particular.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
H.E. Bishop William Shomali, the first panelist, followed with an overview of organizing the visit of the Pope and the ecumenical aspect of the visit which was seen in the meeting between the Pope and the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, Bartholomew, in the holy Sepulcher church. The Pope then met with the Mufti of Jerusalem, His Excellency Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, and other Muslims. Bishop William focused as well on the Pope\u2019s visit to Bethlehem and His Holiness\u2019 meeting with several Palestinian families as a gesture of his closeness to the poor and marginalized. The climax of his visit to Bethlehem was touching with his hands the separation wall and His prayer in front of it and his meeting with the youth in the Dheisheh refugee Palestinian camp.<\/p>\n
H.E. Palestinian ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. \u2018Issa Qassissiya, focused on the political aspects of His Holiness\u2019 visit. The Palestinian people and President Abu Mazen received him warmly. The Pop\u2019s replies were always stressing peace and justice and the rights of Palestinians.<\/p>\n
His Holiness\u2019 Visit to the Dheisheh refugee camp and the youth symbolized the dire need for a just peace and the solution of the refugee problem. Israelis tried to exploit his visit to their advantage, but the Pope did what his pilgrimage intention. The Pope\u2019s visit to the Sho\u2019ah victims and Theodore Herzel were a part of the protocol for heads of states visiting Israel.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A detailed question and answer session followed the presentation. Both panelists stressed that the preparation for the Pope\u2019s visit was not easy especially from the Israeli side. There were many shortcomings before and during the visit. But overall, it was a successful visit and pilgrimage hoping that there will be more cooperation between all sides. Both panelists thanked Muslims and Christians as well as the PNA and its President Abu Mazen, the Mayor of Bethlehem and members of the municipal council and the community for doing their utmost to make the Pope\u2019s pilgrimage a successful one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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