Paul VI in the Holy Land: a sound picture of the first 'pilgrim pope'

(Vatican Radio) On Sunday January 5, Pope Francis specified how the main purpose of his  pilgrimage to the Holy Land from May 24 to 26 was  to mark  the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and  the Head of the Orthodox Church of the time, Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople. A meeting which took place after nine centuries of division between their two churches in January 1964. Veronica Scarisbrick steps back in time with her guests a journalist who reported on this twentieth century pope's visit and an American Cardinal who worked with Paul VI for many years.

As we know Paul VI was the first Roman Pontiff to be referred to as "pilgrim pope", it was he who decided the time had come to bring the papacy to the people. And convinced that all roads no longer led to Rome he became the first pope ever to board an aeroplane! So less than a year into his pontificate he became the first pope to return to the Holy land after Saint Peter himself! 

In this programme we bring you archive recordings of the words of Pope Paul VI during his 1964 pilgrimage. Other archive sound includes an interview with American journalist Bob Miller who was among those reporting on this historic pilgrimage and recalls the emotion of seeing Paul VI on the banks of the River Jordan. Another more recent interview is with someone who also has personal memories of this pilgrimage, He's American Cardinal Justin Rigali who highlights how at the heart of this landmark journey, which took place in the context of the Second Vatican Council, was the historic meeting of Paul VI in the Garden of Olives with Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople after nine centuries of disunion.