Holy Father Pope Francis met the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, calling for an end to violence and discrimination against people of different faiths in the Holy Land. His Holiness recalled his own journey to Jerusalem in 2014 and expressed his pleasure at the recent restoration of Jesus’ tomb in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, a project that saw close cooperation between Orthodox, the Armenians and the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land.
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis conveyed his closeness to all those suffering from the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and noted that the lack of understanding continues to create insecurities, the restriction of fundamental rights and the flight of many people from their land.
His Holiness also called for increased cooperation in supporting Christian families and young people, so that they are not forced to leave the country and exhorted the Christians to look to a future of reconciliation and communion, in order to fulfill the Lord ’s Prayer that they may all be one.
