JERUSALEM (CWNews.com) - Restorers on Wednesday revealed a renovated Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem just in time for Pope John Paul II's visit to the city next week.
The Way of the Cross was restored over nine months using $1 million grant from the private Jerusalem Foundation that cleaned up and smoothed over the road through Jerusalem to the site of the Crucifixion. Although the project was not initiated for the papal trip, organizers were pleased to have it done just in time.
Chief architect Peter Bugod said the project was careful to preserve it as "a road you have to make an effort to walk on." Workers also installed lighted numbers pointing out nine of the 14 stations marking the spots along the Way of the Cross where Jesus was condemned, stumbled several times, and was crucified. The last five stations are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
The Holy Father will ride along the way in a special vehicle that will carry him to the church on the site of the Crucifixion and burial of Christ.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials complained on Wednesday that excessive Israeli security measures would prevent many Palestinians from attending papal events and Masses. Faisal Husseini, the top PLO official in Jerusalem, said Israel was closing schools and stores and restricting who could enter a hospital near the home where the Pope will stay overnight in Arab East Jerusalem.
Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs