VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - # 98
DATE 26-05-2014

Summary:
- THE POPE ARRIVES IN ISRAEL: ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, IN PEACE WITHIN
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED BORDERS
- JOINT DECLARATION OF POPE FRANCIS AND THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
BARTHOLOMEW: OUR COMMON SEARCH DOES NOT DISTANCE US FROM THE TRUTH
- ECUMENICAL ENCOUNTER IN THE HOLY SEPULCHRE: LET US NOT DEPRIVE THE WORLD
OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE RESURRECTION
- THE POPE AT THE ESPLANADE OF THE MOSQUES: MAY NO-ONE ABUSE THE NAME OF
GOD FOR VIOLENT ENDS
- POPE FRANCIS AT THE WESTERN WALL
- AT THE CHIEF RABBINATE OF ISRAEL: OUR FRIENDSHIP IS ONE OF THE FRUITS OF
VATICAN COUNCIL II
- MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL: MAY JERUSALEM TRULY BE
THE CITY OF PEACE
- OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

___________________________________________________________

 THE POPE ARRIVES IN ISRAEL: ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS, IN PEACE WITHIN
INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED BORDERS
 Vatican City, 26 May 2014 (VIS) - Early this afternoon, the Pope visited
the Basilica of the Nativity. The first historical references to this
"cave of the manger of Bethlehem" date back to Origenes. In 326,
the emperor Constantine ordered the construction of a basilica at the over
the Grotto of the Nativity, with its floor raised slightly higher than
ground level. Damaged by fire and the revolt of the Samaritans, it was
restored in 540. In 614, the Persians under Khosrau II invaded the region
but left the Basilica intact on account of its frescoes of the Magi in
Persian dress. In 638, the Muslims entered Bethlehem, which passed to the
Crusaders with the entry of Tancred in 1099. In 1187 Saladin occupied
Jerusalem and Bethlehem but again spared the Shrine. In 1192, the bishop of
Salisbury, Hubert Valter, re-established the Latin cult in return for
payment of a tribute by the faithful. In 1347, the Franciscans obtained
permission from the Ottomans to officiate in the Basilica and possession of
the Grotto and the Basilica. In the sixteenth century there began a period
of disputes between Franciscans and Greek Orthodox regarding the possession
of the Basilica, which changed hands according the favour enjoyed at the
Sublime Porte by the nations supporting the communities. With the defeat of
the Venetians and their expulsion from Crete in 1669, the Orthodox were
authorised to take possession of the Grotto and the Basilica. The latter is
still their property, whereas the Grotto of the Nativity returned to the
Franciscans in 1690. St. Catherine's Basilica, next to the Basilica of the
Nativity, is the parish of the Latins in Bethlehem.
 The ownership of the individual Holy Places is a vexed question that has
given rise to dispute between the communities belonging to the three
monotheistic religions of the Holy Land, and remains a delicate theme for
international chancellors. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, the
struggle between the Byzantine and Latin communities, already heated, began
to be affected by the highs and lows of international politics and the
relations between the powers of the age: the Sultan of Istanbul, who
considered the Christian Holy Places as state property; the Italian
Maritime Republics which protected the Latins; and the Tsar of Russia,
traditionally the protector of Orthodox Churches. Some sanctuaries passed
from one community to another, at times only on the basis of the sum of
money offered to the Sublime Porte. In 1850, a French request to the Sultan
to clarify the matter led to a further dispute with Russia, and and a
decree was issued from Istanbul in February 1852 to authorise the existing
situation in the various shrines. The "statu quo" virtually froze
the claims of the Franciscans in relation to the expropriations of which
they had been victims for centuries, and cost them a high price in terms of
human lives and property. This Ottoman edict remains in force today and
continues to govern the situation in various Shrines such as the Grotto of
the Nativity (Bethlehem), the Cenacle and the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem).
 Pope Francis visited the Grotto of the Nativity, which he reached via an
internal passage between the "Casa Nova" Convent and the
Greek-Orthodox Basilica, and spent some time there in prayer. He returned
by the same passage to the Convent where he was photographed with the
Friars. He then proceeded to the "Phoenix Centre" in Bethlehem, a
reception centre in the refugee camp of Dheisheh; the centre was built as a
result of a donation from Pope John Paul II on his visit in 2000. The Pope
was received in the auditorium of the centre by around one hundred children
from the refugee camps of Dheisheh, Aida and Beit Jibrin. There was a
festive atmosphere with singing, and two children presented the Pope with
drawings, letters and craft works. The Pope prayed with the children, and
before imparting his blessing a child read him a letter in which he said,
'we are children of Palestine. Our parents have endured occupation for 66
years. We opened our eyes to this occupation and have seen the nakba in the
eyes of our grandparents as they left this world. We want to tell the
world: enough suffering and humiliation!".
 "Don't ever allow the past to determine your lives", the Holy
Father responded. "Always look to the future, work hard and make
efforts to achieve what you want. But you must understand this: violence
cannot be overcome by violence. Violence is overcome by peace! By peace, by
working with dignity to help your homeland to move forward". He then
returned to the heliport, where he was awaited by the president of the
State of Palestine who bid the Pope farewell, accompanied by the Guard of
Honour. After a half-hour journey by helicopter the Pontiff arrived at the
International Ben Gurion Airport of Tel Aviv, Israel, where he was received
by Shimon Peres, president of the State; Benjamin Netanyahu, prime
minister; the political, civil and religious authorities, the Ordinaries of
the Holy Land, and a choir of young people. "I have come on pilgrimage
to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the historic visit of Pope Paul
VI", said Francis. "Since then, much has changed in the
relationship between the Holy See and the State of Israel: diplomatic
relations, established some twenty years ago, have favoured the development
of good relations, as witnessed by the two Agreements already signed and
ratified, and a third which is in the process of being finalised. In this
spirit I greet all the people of Israel with prayerful good wishes that
their aspirations of peace and prosperity will achieve fulfilment".
 The Pope went on to remark that the Holy Land is a spiritual point of
reference for as the scene of a multi-millennial history and the principal
events in the origin and growth of the three great monotheistic religions,
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. "So I express my hope and prayer
that this blessed land may be one which has no place for those who, by
exploiting and absolutising the value of their own religious tradition,
prove intolerant and violent towards those of others". He commented
that during his pilgrimage he would visit some of the most significant
places in Jerusalem, "a city of universal importance".
"Jerusalem, of course, means 'city of peace'", he continued.
"This is what God wills it to be, and such is the desire of all people
of good will. Yet sadly Jerusalem remains deeply troubled as a result of
long standing conflicts. We all know how urgent is the need for peace, not
only for Israel but also for the entire region. May efforts and energies be
increasingly directed to the pursuit of a just and lasting solution to the
conflicts which have caused so much suffering. In union with all men and
women of good will, I implore those in positions of responsibility to leave
no stone unturned in the search for equitable solutions to complex
problems, so that Israelis and Palestinians may live in peace. The path of
dialogue, reconciliation and peace must constantly be taken up anew,
courageously and tirelessly. There is simply no other way".
 He went on to renew the appeal made by his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI
during his 2009 visit: "the right of the State of Israel to exist and
to flourish in peace and security within internationally recognised borders
must be universally recognized. At the same time, there must also be a
recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to a sovereign homeland
and their right to live with dignity and with freedom of movement. The 'Two
State Solution' must become reality and not remain merely a dream".
 The Pontiff went on to speak about a "particularly moving" part
of his stay, his visit on Monday to the Yad Vashem Memorial to the six
million Jews who were victims of the Shoah, "a tragedy which is the
enduring symbol of the depths to which human evil can sink when, spurred by
false ideologies, it fails to recognise the fundamental dignity of each
person, which merits unconditional respect regardless of ethnic origin or
religious belief. I beg God that there will never be another such crime,
which also counted among its victims many Christians and others. Ever
mindful of the past, let us promote an education in which exclusion and
confrontation give way to inclusion and encounter, where there will be no
place for anti-Semitism in any of its forms or for expressions of
hostility, discrimination or intolerance towards any individual or
people".
 He added, "It is with a profoundly saddened heart that I have heard
of how many people lost their lives in Saturday's atrocious attack in
Brussels. I thoroughly condemn this criminal act of anti-Semitic hatred,
and commend the victims to God's mercy and pray for the recovery of the
injured".
 The Holy Father remarked that the brevity of his visit necessarily limits
the encounters he is able to make, but took the opportunity to greet all
Israel's citizens and to express his closeness to them, "particularly
those living in Nazareth and in Galilee, where many Christian communities
are found". He concluded by addressing a "warm and fraternal
greeting" to the bishops and the Christian faithful, and encouraged
them "to persevere in their quiet witness of faith and hope in the
service of reconciliation and forgiveness, following the teaching and
example of the Lord Jesus, who gave his life to bring about peace between
God and man, and between brothers. May you always be a leaven of
reconciliation, bringing hope to others, bearing witness to charity! Know
that you are constantly in my prayers".

___________________________________________________________

 JOINT DECLARATION OF POPE FRANCIS AND THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH
BARTHOLOMEW: OUR COMMON SEARCH DOES NOT DISTANCE US FROM THE TRUTH
 Vatican City, 26 May 2014 (VIS) - After the welcome ceremony at Tel Aviv
airport, the Pope transferred by helicopter to Jerusalem where, at the
Apostolic Delegation, he met with the Ecumenical Patriarch of
Constantinople, Bartholomew, who was accompanied by three high dignitaries.
The meeting was also attended by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin
and Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity.
 The Patriarch Bartholomew was elected in 1991 as the 270th Patriarch
archbishop of Constantinople, the New Rome and the Ecumenical Patriarch. He
visited Benedict XVI in the Vatican in 2008 and participated in the
celebration of the second millennium since the birth of St. Paul. On 19
March 20123 he attended the Mass of the beginning of Pope Francis' Petrine
ministry; it was the first time since the Great Schism of 1054 that an
Orthodox patriarch was present at the inauguration ceremony of a Catholic
pope.
 Following the meeting, Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew signed the
following Joint Declaration:
 "1. Like our venerable predecessors Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical
Patriarch Athenagoras who met here in Jerusalem fifty years ago, we too,
Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, were determined to meet
in the Holy Land 'where our common Redeemer, Christ our Lord, lived,
taught, died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, whence he sent the Holy
Spirit on the infant Church' (Common communiqué of Pope Paul VI and

--- MPost/386 v1.21