Pope hopes Holy Land trip will promote peace

(May 4, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday asked for prayers so that his upcoming trip to the Holy Land will give encouragement to Christians there and also promote dialogue, reconciliation and peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The Pope invited the faithful to pray for the trip before reciting the weekly midday “Regina Caeli” prayer with those gathered in St. Peter's Square. He is set to leave this Friday for Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories and will return on May 15. He hopes "to confirm and encourage the Christians of the Holy Land, who must daily confront many difficulties. As a successor of the Apostle Peter, I will show the closeness and support of the whole body of the Church," the Holy Father said. "Moreover, I will be a pilgrim of peace, in the name of the one God, Father of all," he said adding he will give witness to the Catholic Church's commitment to those who favour dialogue and reconciliation in order to arrive at a stable and lasting peace in justice and mutual respect. Pope Benedict also stressed that his trip will have a notable ecumenical and interreligious significance. “Jerusalem,” he said, “is, from this point of view, the symbolic city par excellence: There Christ died so as to reunite all of the dispersed children of God."
After praying the “Regina Coeli” Pope Benedict said he was praying for victims of swine flu. Speaking in Spanish, he urged Mexicans and others to keep praying themselves, especially as a family, so that God can help them overcome their difficulties. Mexico has been the epicenter of the viral epidemic, with 19 deaths.
Pope Benedict also greeted pilgrims in English.
Listen:
To all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for today’s Regina Caeli, I extend a warm welcome. I pray that as you follow the voice of the Good Shepherd, you will grow ever closer to the Risen Lord and share his Gospel with all those you encounter. This Friday I leave for my pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where men and women first heard the voice of the Good Shepherd. I ask you all to join me in praying for the afflicted peoples of that region. In a special way I ask that you remember the Palestinian people who have endured great hardship and suffering. May the Lord bless them and all those who live in the Holy Land with the gifts of unity and peace. Upon all of you visiting Rome during this Easter Season, I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God.