Reviews Most Significant Stages Before 45,000 Pilgrims
VATICAN CITY, MAR 29 (ZENIT.org).- This morning John Paul II evoked the most significant emotions, gestures and moments of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which he undertook from March 20-26, and which was followed by the media second by second.
"The joy and gratitude that I carry in my heart for this gift from the Lord, which I longed for so much, are inexpressible," the Pope said when he began his address in the Wednesday general audience which today gathered an estimated 45,000 pilgrims, an extraordinarily high number, given the fact that this week no massive Jubilee event is scheduled.
After thanking the Jordanian, Israeli and Palestinian authorities for their magnificent welcome, and reiterating "the concern of the Holy See for a just peace among all people of the region," the Pontiff reminisced about each of the stages of his pilgrimage, echoing the "sorrowful problem" of the Palestinian refugees and the "terrifying tragedy" of the Holocaust.
Refugee God The Holy Father relived the emotion he felt when he knelt in the cave of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where God "made himself an exile and refugee to bring us back to his house." The Pope continued, "This thought accompanied me while, before leaving the Autonomous Palestinian Territory, I visited in Bethlehem one of the many camps, where for too long more than three million Palestinian refugees have lived. May everyone's efforts finally lead to a solution to this sorrowful problem."
Jerusalem, Jerusalem... Jerusalem will remain "indelibly" engraved on the Pontiff's heart. During his pilgrimage, he was able to celebrate Mass in the Upper Room of the Last Supper, the first time a Pope has done so, at least since St. Peter. Further, from the Holy Sepulcher, Jesus' empty tomb, he was also able to re-launch the central message of Christianity in the world. "Christ is Risen!" He himself acknowledged that this was the reason why he broke all the scheduled programs a few hours before leaving Israel, to be able to visit the Calvary chapel, "where Christ shed his blood for humanity."
Jerusalem, Holy City of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, was also a place to meet leaders of the three monotheistic religions that share Abraham as their common father in faith. With gratitude, John Paul recalled the meetings he had with the Chief Rabbis and the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, as well as Christians of all denominations. "In spite of its many difficulties, Jerusalem is called to become the symbol of peace among those believers in the God of Abraham and put themselves under his law. May we be able to hasten the accomplishment of this plan!"
Tragedy of the Holocaust The Holy Father then recalled the moment that attracted the greatest attention in the press, his visit to the Holocaust Memorial. "Once more I expressed my profound sorrow for this terrifying tragedy, and I confirmed that 'we want to remember' to take the responsibility together - Jews, Christians, and all men and women of good will - to defeat evil with good, to walk the path of peace."
Step Toward Christian Unity As regards his meeting with Christ's followers who are separated in different confessions, the greatest scandal of Christianity's history, John Paul II acknowledged that for him the ecumenical meeting in Jerusalem was a reason for "great joy" and was "an important step in the road toward full unity among Christians." Therefore, he invited all "to pray that the process of understanding and collaboration among Christians of various Churches will develop and come together."
Look Toward Future Finally, the Holy Father mentioned his meeting with some 100,000 youths on the Mount of the Beatitudes. "What a hope-filled moment!" he recalled. From that mountain he "saw in them the future of the Church and the world." The mountain is in Galilee, "homeland of Mary and of the first disciples; homeland of the missionary Church among the peoples! I think that Peter always had it in his heart; and the same is true for his successor!"
John Paul II ended the audience by thanking God for this "unforgettable experience" and hoped "with humble faith that he bring forth from it abundant fruit for the good of the Church and humanity."
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