Pope Benedict has traveled into the West
Bank, spending the day in Bethlehem, the place Christians venerate the
birthplace of Jesus. The pope urged young Palestinians not to resort to violence
or terrorism, and pledged his support for the creation of Palestinian state. The
pontiff also had words of comfort for the people of the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Pope Benedict got a first-hand view of the restrictions that
millions of Palestinians live with when his motorcade crossed through an
imposing concrete wall that is part of Israel's security barrier and is meant to
keep bombers from the West Bank from carrying out attacks in Israel.
In Bethlehem, the cradle of Christianity, hundreds
of people chanted, "Long Live the Pope," and "Long Live Palestine," as his
vehicle made its way through the narrow, ancient streets to the town's Manger
Square.
The pope met with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas, to whom he pledged the Vatican's support for the right
of a sovereign homeland for the Palestinians in the land of their forefathers.
The statement puts the Vatican at odds with Israel's new prime
minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who does not support the establishment of a
Palestinian state.
At a Mass on Manger Square, the
head of the Roman Catholic Church drew applause when he delivered a special
message in his homily for the people who were allowed to come to the Mass from
the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces staged a massive offensive against
militants four months ago.
"In a special way, my heart
goes out to the pilgrims from war-torn Gaza. I ask you to bring back to your
families and your communities my warm embrace, and my sorrow for the loss, the
hardship, and the hardship, and the suffering you have had to endure," he said.
Israel granted permits to about 100 Christians to leave the
Gaza Strip and attend the Mass in Bethlehem.
The enclave is under tight restrictions imposed by Israel and
Egypt on the movement of people and goods, by land, air, and sea. The embargo,
which Israel says is due to security reasons, has resulted in shortages of
supplies, including construction materials needed to rebuild from the recent
war.
In his homily, the pope said
he is praying for an end to the closure.
"Please be assured of my solidarity with you in the immense
work of rebuilding which now lies ahead, and my prayers that the embargo will
soon be lifted," he said.
The pope's schedule included
a visit to a Palestinian refugee camp in Bethlehem that is home to thousands of
people whose families were forced from their lands in 1948 upon the creation of
the State of Israel.
On Thursday, the pope - who
says he has come as pilgrim of peace - travels to the northern Israeli city of
Nazareth, where Jesus grew up. The city, like others in the Holy Land, has seen
its population of Christian residents drop dramatically in recent decades.
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