(-VIDEO ONLY-) During his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis recalled his apostolic visit to the Holy Land.
He thanked the local authorities for their welcome, the Franciscans for their work in looking after the Holy Places, and he asked for prayers for peace.
Talking about his ecumenical meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, the Pope expressed his concern for the divisions between Christians, and he apologized for any role the Church had played in furthering those divisions.
POPE'S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
My apostolic journey to the Holy Land in these days was a great grace for me and for the whole Church. It commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the meeting of Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, which marked a milestone along the path to Christian unity.
Patriarch Bartholomew and I prayed together as brothers before the tomb of the Risen Lord and we renewed our commitment to work for full communion between the Churches.
My journey was also meant to encourage the efforts of those who work for peace in the Middle East and those who care for the many people, especially refugees and children, suffering the effects of war and violence. As you know, I have invited the Presidents of Israel and Palestine to join me in praying for peace.
Finally, I wished to confirm in faith the Christian communities in the Holy Land, to acknowledge their difficulties and to support their charitable and educational works. May the prayer and solidarity of the entire Church sustain their witness to the Gospel message of hope and reconciliation, and help to bring Godâ??s gift of peace to those blessed lands.
I am pleased to greet the members of the International Catholic Migration Commission meeting in plenary session, with prayerful good wishes for their united action in providing relief to so many of our brothers and sisters in need.
I also greet the Catholic Police Guild of England and Wales on the centenary of its foundation, and the members of the Global Legislators Organization.
Upon all the English-speaking pilgrims taking part in todayâ??s Audience, including those from England, Sweden, Israel, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, Canada and the United States, I invoke the joy and peace of the Risen Lord. God bless you!
JRB/RCA
CTV
VM
-BN
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