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Blessings to Travel to Israel

Pope Encourages "Pilgrimages of "Peace"
for Christian Community

Pope John Paul II urged the worldwide Christian Community to lend their support to the Christian Community in Israel by visiting the Holy Land themselves. In a recent address to the general assembly of the Italian Bishops Conference in Vatican City, the Holy Father praised the Roman Society for Pilgrimages and the Italian dioceses in general for their fruitful efforts to increase travel to Israel. “Many of you have visited personally those places, taking numerous pilgrims with you. It is also a strong sign of closeness and solidarity for the Christian communities that live there and that are in great need of your help,” Pope John Paul II said.

Bearing a torch blessed by the Pope, 15 Italian athletes, 15 Israelis, and 15 Palestinians participated in the Jerusalem-Bethlehem Peace Marathon on April 23. They spanned the distance between Jerusalem, the eternal capital of faith for Christians, Muslims and Jews, and Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. The event was touted by the Vicar of Rome both as a testament to Israel’s safety and its enduring allure for Christians. “We came here to the Holy Land and we found a situation not as tense as described by the media. We are aware of the fact that many Christians would like to come on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sites and we say to these people: Come without fear, there is no reason to be afraid,” said Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Ruini.

With tourism to Israel boasting a 93% increase since 2003, Pope John Paul’s support of religiously motivated travel is a timely reminder to people of all faiths to reconnect with their roots. Rami Levi, Tourism Ambassador to North and South America, is eager to welcome the pilgrims to Israel. “The vitality of the Christian community in Israel has always been of central importance to the culture and spirituality of the land. I hope Christians throughout the world will continue to connect to their history here, by returning to the Holy Land,” Ambassador Levi said.

To know everything there is to know about all aspects of travel to Israel, visit: www.goisrael.com or call 1-888-77-Israel.

Edited by Dave Shultz

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