Simple celebrations that are full of meaning accompanied the visit of Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti in the Holy Land, from December 4 to 7. Jerusalem and Bethlehem were the main stages of his journey, that spurred from an invitation by the Custody of the Holy Land. The cardinal went through the solemn entries in the major basilicas of both cities. These ceremonies, which take place only on special occasions for prelates who come from other countries, were a sign of recognition of Cardinal Bassetti’s ties with the Holy Land.
In Jerusalem, after greeting the Christian communities of the Holy Sepulcher, the singing of the Te Deum led the procession with the Franciscans to the shrine that houses the empty tomb of Christ.
Fr. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
"Welcome to Jerusalem, welcome to this holy place and welcome among us. With your prayer, your presence, your renewed act of faith, here in this place and on this tomb, may you help us look toward heaven together and look at each other with kindness and always look beyond the horizon.”
LIVE ENTRANCE AND PRAYER IN THE TOMB
H.E. Card. GUALTIERO BASSETTI
Archbishop of Perugia—Città della Pieve—Italy
“While I was there, in adoration of the Holy Sepulcher, I felt Jesus saying: ‘Come, feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.’ And I, presenting my hardships to the Lord, could feel him replying, ‘Fear not, I have sent you, and I will give you power.”
In Bethlehem, the festive welcome on Manger Square was accompanied by the notes of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. After the greeting the authorities and entering the Basilica, Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali delivered the message from the Diocese of Jerusalem at Saint Catherine’s church.
H.E. Mons. WILLIAM SHOMALI
Auxiliary Bishop for Jerusalem and Palestine
“You come here as a pilgrim, as a friend of the Holy Land —and this title is not of little importance—because you have already made 15 pilgrimages to the Holy Land. If you keep coming back to the Holy Land it is because you have the Holy Land in your heart. I ask you for your prayers because the Holy Land is thirsty for peace.”
Italian archbishop of the Diocese of Perugia-Città della Pieve since 2009, Gualtiero Bassetti was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in February 2014. He is the vice president of the Italian Bishops Conference. In this capacity, a month ago, he was in Gaza for a meeting between the local communities and the leaders of the Italian Bishops Conference.
H.E. Card. GUALTIERO BASSETTI
Archbishop of Perugia—Città della Pieve—Italy
“The situation of the children playing in the rubble really hurt my heart. But it was also a sign of hope because life always starts over again, and as much as these situations are tragic—bombings are some of the most ruthless acts on earth—from the ashes of our human destruction, God’s power and man’s hope always have the opportunity to give rise to something new.”
In Jerusalem, after greeting the Christian communities of the Holy Sepulcher, the singing of the Te Deum led the procession with the Franciscans to the shrine that houses the empty tomb of Christ.
Fr. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land
"Welcome to Jerusalem, welcome to this holy place and welcome among us. With your prayer, your presence, your renewed act of faith, here in this place and on this tomb, may you help us look toward heaven together and look at each other with kindness and always look beyond the horizon.”
LIVE ENTRANCE AND PRAYER IN THE TOMB
H.E. Card. GUALTIERO BASSETTI
Archbishop of Perugia—Città della Pieve—Italy
“While I was there, in adoration of the Holy Sepulcher, I felt Jesus saying: ‘Come, feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.’ And I, presenting my hardships to the Lord, could feel him replying, ‘Fear not, I have sent you, and I will give you power.”
In Bethlehem, the festive welcome on Manger Square was accompanied by the notes of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. After the greeting the authorities and entering the Basilica, Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali delivered the message from the Diocese of Jerusalem at Saint Catherine’s church.
H.E. Mons. WILLIAM SHOMALI
Auxiliary Bishop for Jerusalem and Palestine
“You come here as a pilgrim, as a friend of the Holy Land —and this title is not of little importance—because you have already made 15 pilgrimages to the Holy Land. If you keep coming back to the Holy Land it is because you have the Holy Land in your heart. I ask you for your prayers because the Holy Land is thirsty for peace.”
Italian archbishop of the Diocese of Perugia-Città della Pieve since 2009, Gualtiero Bassetti was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in February 2014. He is the vice president of the Italian Bishops Conference. In this capacity, a month ago, he was in Gaza for a meeting between the local communities and the leaders of the Italian Bishops Conference.
H.E. Card. GUALTIERO BASSETTI
Archbishop of Perugia—Città della Pieve—Italy
“The situation of the children playing in the rubble really hurt my heart. But it was also a sign of hope because life always starts over again, and as much as these situations are tragic—bombings are some of the most ruthless acts on earth—from the ashes of our human destruction, God’s power and man’s hope always have the opportunity to give rise to something new.”