Vatican City ( AsiaNews ) – Pope Francis will be in the Holy Land May 24 to 26 , to commemorate the “historic meeting” between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras . During this pilgrimage, for which the Pope asks the prayers of all the faithful, there is an Ecumenical Meeting at the Holy Sepulchre with the representatives of all the Christian Churches present in the Holy Land . This was announced by the Pope after the Angelus today, delivered to a St. Peter’s Square under pouring rain.
Immediately before the Angelus, the Pope invoked for ” Mary, Mother of God and our loving Mother , always sustain us , so that we remain faithful to our Christian vocation and carry out the wishes of justice and peace that we carry within us at the beginning of this new year. ”
Then following the Angelus, Francis announced his next trip: “In this climate of joy , typical of this Christmas season , I wish to announce that 24 to 26 May next, God willing, I will be making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land . The main purpose of this pilgrimage is to commemorate the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, which happened January 5th , like today, 50 years ago . There will be three stages in Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. An Ecumenical Meeting will be celebrated with representatives of all Christian Churches of Jerusalem at the Holy Sepulchre together with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Starting now I ask you to pray that this pilgrimage be a pilgrimage of prayer”.
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VATICAN Pope to meet all the Christian Churches of Jerusalem in Holy Land this May – Asia News