During his first official visit to the Middle East, Mr. Gordon Brown, Prime of Minister of Great Britain, expressed his desire to make a pilgrimage to the grotto of the Church of the Nativity. On Sunday July 20th Mr. Brown was received at the Office of the Palestinian Authority in Bethlehem where he met the president of the Palestinian Autonomy. At about 16.00, Mr. Brown was welcomed by the civil and religious authorities (Greeks, Armenians and the Franciscans) in front of the Basilica of the Nativity. A group of Palestinian children waved flags and applauded the special guest. Representatives of the three Christian Communities, responsible of the Basilica, accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit. Fr. Peter Vasko guided the group through the property of the Custody of the Holy Land.
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