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Pope Francis offers prayers at Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem Pope Francis offers prayers at Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem
(35 minutes later)
Pope Francis confirmed his reputation for determined independence with an unscheduled stop to pray conspicuously for four minutes at the imposing Israeli separation wall as he passed through the West Bank city of Bethlehem.Pope Francis confirmed his reputation for determined independence with an unscheduled stop to pray conspicuously for four minutes at the imposing Israeli separation wall as he passed through the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
The Pope's prayer at a location replete with political significance and controversy came while he was traveling to an open-air mass in Manger Square.The Pope's prayer at a location replete with political significance and controversy came while he was traveling to an open-air mass in Manger Square.
The dramatic gesture was followed with an invitation to the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, to join him in Rome to meet and pray together for peace in an unprecedented Papal intervention in the troubled peace process.The dramatic gesture was followed with an invitation to the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, to join him in Rome to meet and pray together for peace in an unprecedented Papal intervention in the troubled peace process.
"In this, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, I wish to invite you, President Mahmoud Abbas, together with President Shimon Peres, to join me in heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace," the Pope said."In this, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, I wish to invite you, President Mahmoud Abbas, together with President Shimon Peres, to join me in heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace," the Pope said.
"I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer," Francis said."I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer," Francis said.
Asked about the invitation, a spokeswoman for Peres said the Israeli president "always accepts any kind of initiative to promote peace". While Abbas heads the Palestinian government, Peres's presidential post is largely ceremonial.Asked about the invitation, a spokeswoman for Peres said the Israeli president "always accepts any kind of initiative to promote peace". While Abbas heads the Palestinian government, Peres's presidential post is largely ceremonial.
Pope Frances has insisted that the purpose of his first visit to the Holy Land as pontiff was purely spiritual. And yet he has certainly not shied from making bold political gestures.Pope Frances has insisted that the purpose of his first visit to the Holy Land as pontiff was purely spiritual. And yet he has certainly not shied from making bold political gestures.
His route had been planned to pass close by the separation wall. Palestinian officials had hoped he might stop briefly to contemplate the Israeli built structure, which weaves through the occupied West Bank, but instead Francis stopped his calvacade, stepped out of the white, glass covered pick-up truck and made his way up to the wall, where he was quickly surrounded by children from the nearby Aida camp.His route had been planned to pass close by the separation wall. Palestinian officials had hoped he might stop briefly to contemplate the Israeli built structure, which weaves through the occupied West Bank, but instead Francis stopped his calvacade, stepped out of the white, glass covered pick-up truck and made his way up to the wall, where he was quickly surrounded by children from the nearby Aida camp.
Approaching the wall, which is close to the main Israeli checkpoint by Rachel's Tomb, Pope Francis put his palm to the towering concrete structure, covered with graffiti appeals to the Palestinian cause, and bowed his head in prayer, flanked by two girls with Palestinian flags. The heads of Israeli soldiers were visible at the window of a nearby watchtower.Approaching the wall, which is close to the main Israeli checkpoint by Rachel's Tomb, Pope Francis put his palm to the towering concrete structure, covered with graffiti appeals to the Palestinian cause, and bowed his head in prayer, flanked by two girls with Palestinian flags. The heads of Israeli soldiers were visible at the window of a nearby watchtower.
Frances' approach was remarkable in contrast to Pope Benedict XVI, who entered Bethlehem through the Rachel's Tomb Israeli checkpoint. Previous popes have flown into Tel Aviv and then proceeded through Israel into Palestinian territory. Frances flew directly into Bethelehem from Amman, bypassing any Israeli borders.Frances' approach was remarkable in contrast to Pope Benedict XVI, who entered Bethlehem through the Rachel's Tomb Israeli checkpoint. Previous popes have flown into Tel Aviv and then proceeded through Israel into Palestinian territory. Frances flew directly into Bethelehem from Amman, bypassing any Israeli borders.
His decision to pray at the separation wall appeared to surprise his own entourage. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said: "I was not informed before. It was planned by him the day before. It was not on the plan of the trip.His decision to pray at the separation wall appeared to surprise his own entourage. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said: "I was not informed before. It was planned by him the day before. It was not on the plan of the trip.
"At a certain point the pope came very near the dividing wall and then he stopped the car and went down and came near to the wall and remained there for some minutes, silent near the wall, praying but in a silent way," Lombardi said."At a certain point the pope came very near the dividing wall and then he stopped the car and went down and came near to the wall and remained there for some minutes, silent near the wall, praying but in a silent way," Lombardi said.
"Then at the end he touched the wall then we went away. It was not a kiss or a blessing, it was a sign of contact and I think it was very significant way to demonstrate his participation in suffering … it was done in a silent praying way, but without words. It was a profound spiritual moment in front of a symbol of division.""Then at the end he touched the wall then we went away. It was not a kiss or a blessing, it was a sign of contact and I think it was very significant way to demonstrate his participation in suffering … it was done in a silent praying way, but without words. It was a profound spiritual moment in front of a symbol of division."
In a carefully crafted statement, delivered in Bethlehem with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, Francis recognised 'the State of Palestine' and called on both sides to have the courage to make peace. In a carefully crafted statement, delivered in Bethlehem with Abbas, the pope recognised "the State of Palestine" and called on both sides to have the courage to make peace.
"For decades the Middle East has known the tragic consequences of a protracted conflict which has inflicted many wounds so difficult to heal," the Pontiff declared, describing the situation as "increasingly unacceptable". "For decades the Middle East has known the tragic consequences of a protracted conflict which has inflicted many wounds so difficult to heal," the pontiff declared, describing the situation as "increasingly unacceptable".
"Even in the absence of violence, the climate of instability and a lack of mutual understanding have produced insecurity, the violation of rights, isolation and the flight of entire communities, conflicts, shortages and sufferings of every sort."Even in the absence of violence, the climate of instability and a lack of mutual understanding have produced insecurity, the violation of rights, isolation and the flight of entire communities, conflicts, shortages and sufferings of every sort.
"In expressing my closeness to those who suffer most from this conflict, I wish to state my heartfelt conviction that the time has come to put an end to this situation which has become increasingly unacceptable. For the good of all, there is a need to intensify efforts and initiatives aimed at creating the conditions for a stable peace based on justice, on the recognition of the rights of every individual, and on mutual security," he continued. "In expressing my closeness to those who suffer most from this conflict, I wish to state my heartfelt conviction that the time has come to put an end to this situation which has become increasingly unacceptable. For the good of all, there is a need to intensify efforts and initiatives aimed at creating the conditions for a stable peace based on justice, on the recognition of the rights of every individual, and on mutual security."
"The time has come for everyone to find the courage to be generous and creative in the service of the common good, the courage to forge a peace which rests on the acknowledgment by all of the right of two States to exist and to live in peace and security within internationally recognised borders." He added: "The time has come for everyone to find the courage to be generous and creative in the service of the common good, the courage to forge a peace which rests on the acknowledgment by all of the right of two States to exist and to live in peace and security within internationally recognised borders."
Shortly after his prayer stop at the wall, Francis arrived at Bethlehem's manger square - which was festooned with the Vatican's yellow and white flags and the Palestinian green. Thousands of jubilant Palestinian Christians, gathered for an open air mass outside the Church of the Nativity, cheered "Viva al-Baba!" or "Long live the pope!" Shortly after his prayer at the wall, Francis arrived at Bethlehem's manger square, which was festooned with the Vatican's yellow-and-white flags and the Palestinian green. Thousands of jubilant Palestinian Christians, gathered for an open-air mass outside the Church of the Nativity, cheered "Viva al-Baba!" or "Long live the pope!"
The ceremony began with a rendition of 'Mawatani' – My Homeland – a song that speaks to Palestinian desire for independence . The ceremony began with a rendition of Mawatani (My Homeland), a song that speaks to Palestinian desire for independence .
Security was light. Frances had shunned the armored popemobile used by his predecessors. Security was light. Frances had shunned the armoured popemobile used by predecessors.
Only two bodyguards stood on the back of Francis' vehicle as Palestinian police kept the crowd at bay. Francis waved and smiled warmly as his car made its way through the crowd .Only two bodyguards stood on the back of Francis' vehicle as Palestinian police kept the crowd at bay. Francis waved and smiled warmly as his car made its way through the crowd .
"I want the pope to see the situation of the Christians," said Salib Safar, 23, a hotel management student in Manger Square for the papal mass. "The wall (separation barrier), the occupation, the pressure on our lives." "I want the pope to see the situation of the Christians," said Salib Safar, 23, a hotel management student in Manger Square for the papal mass. "The wall [separation barrier], the occupation, the pressure on our lives."
Francis acknowledged the Palestinian Christian hardship and in his homily sought to encourage the younger generations with a strong plea for children around the globe to be protected and defended from war, poverty, disease and exile as refugees.Francis acknowledged the Palestinian Christian hardship and in his homily sought to encourage the younger generations with a strong plea for children around the globe to be protected and defended from war, poverty, disease and exile as refugees.
"All too many children continue to be exploited, maltreated, enslaved, prey to violence and illicit trafficking," he said, standing in front of a mural of the nativity scene in which the baby Jesus is wrapped in the black-and-white checkered Palestinian headdress. "Today in acknowledging this, we feel shame before God.""All too many children continue to be exploited, maltreated, enslaved, prey to violence and illicit trafficking," he said, standing in front of a mural of the nativity scene in which the baby Jesus is wrapped in the black-and-white checkered Palestinian headdress. "Today in acknowledging this, we feel shame before God."
After the mass, Francis ate lunch with Palestinian families and visited a Palestinian refugee camp before flying to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport. He will then travel on to Jerusalem.After the mass, Francis ate lunch with Palestinian families and visited a Palestinian refugee camp before flying to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport. He will then travel on to Jerusalem.
At the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the pope's visit "an opportunity to present to the world the real Israel the advanced, modern, tolerant Israel." Israel, he said, guaranteed freedom of religion for all faiths. At the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting, theIsraeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, called the pope's visit "an opportunity to present to the world the real Israel - the advanced, modern, tolerant Israel." Israel, he said, guaranteed freedom of religion for all faiths.
Israeli police have deployed 8,000 officers in Jerusalem and 320 closed-circuit surveillance cameras monitored Jerusalem's old city. Early on Sunday, 26 Israelis were arrested for throwing stones at police officers and causing disturbances at a Jerusalem holy site where the pope will celebrate Mass at the end of his trip. Israeli police have deployed 8,000 officers in Jerusalem with 320 CCTV cameras monitoring Jerusalem's old city. Early on Sunday, 26 Israelis were arrested for throwing stones at police officers and causing disturbances at a Jerusalem holy site where the pope will celebrate mass at the end of his trip.