Catholic World News News Feature

Pope will be 'pilgrim of peace' in Holy Land May 04, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI will travel to Israel next week as "a pilgrim of peace," he told a group of American philanthropists at a May 2 audience. The Holy Father told members of the Papal Foundation that the Holy Land "has been plagued by violence and injustice," creating "a general atmosphere of mistrust, uncertainty, and fear-- often pitting neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother."

Facing these problems-- which are aggravated by the worldwide economic crisis-- the people of the Holy Land are badly in need of Christ's message of peace, the Pope told his American guests. He asked prayers for the success of his mission and for the people he would visit. "May they receive the gifts of reconciliation, hope, and peace," he prayed.

Pope Benedict observed that it is particularly important to proclaim the Christian message in the land where it was first heard. He indicated that he hopes to bring a message of encouragement and solidarity for the Christians still living in the Holy Land, and promote a climate of mutual respect and forbearance that will extend across religious boundaries.

During the Saturday private audience, the Pope offered his thanks to the members of to Papal Foundation-- an organization that was established by the late Cardinal John Krol of Philadelphia to provide support for the Holy See. Again recognizing the difficulties of today's economic climate, the Pope said that donors have performed a real Christian service when the offer their help, acting as "beacons of hope, strength, and support for others."