Holy Land pilgrimage begins

Catholic Church leaders from Europe and North America begin a six day pilgrimage to the Holy Land this weekend, hoping to provide both practical and spiritual support for the struggling Christian communities across Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.
Supported by the Vatican and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the bishops from the US, Canada and half a dozen European nations will arrive on Saturday and visit Catholic parishes in Jerusalem, Nablus and Gaza the following day. Later in the week they travel to Haifa in Galilee, hold meetings with religious and political leaders, and hear from experts on problems such as settler violence, the flagging peace process, the housing crisis in Jerusalem and the latest interfaith initiatives. Philippa Hitchen will be travelling with the bishops throughout this coming week, sending back reports and interviews, but to get a flavour of the mood and the main objectives of this annual event, she spoke just prior to her departure with one of the main organisers of the Holy Land Coordination group, Archbishop Patrick Kelly of Liverpool...

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