Christians and Muslims bid farewell to Benedict XVI. For new Pope, the task of continuing dialogue between faiths
Nazareth (AsiaNews) - "The Christians of the Holy Land would like a pope who is a witness of peace, open to dialogue with other faiths and non-believers." Msgr. Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem tells AsiaNews. According to the prelate for Christians living in Israel and the Palestinian territories, peace is not merely the absence of war, but the hope of being able to bear witness to Christ in their own land. "There is a pervasive climate of renewed faith and vitality these days - said Msgr. Marcuzzo - these particular days in the life of the Church, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Druze and Greek-orthodox organized moments of prayer and initiatives to commemorate Benedict XVI and now await the election the new Successor of Peter. "
Between February 25 and 28, when the Vacant See began, every parish of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem organized several prayer initiatives, vespers, processions, adorations. Some communities called on Muslims to express their opinion on the pontificate of Benedict. Many cited the episode of the Regensburg speech, where the Pope's words were misunderstood, but later understood and meditated on during his visit to Israel, Jordan and Palestine.
"The population organized most of these events in a spontaneous way - says
the bishop - some have even organized a pilgrimage to Tiberias. On the banks of
the lake where Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to the Apostle
Peter, and home to the Basilica dedicated to the Chair of St. Peter".
On 28 February at 20.00 all the parishes of the Holy Land celebrated a solemn mass in honour of the Pope and to pray for the cardinals eligible to vote for the new successor of Peter. The community of Nazareth commemorated the visit of Benedict XVI in 2009, using the same mass vestments worn by the Pope "I myself - said Msgr. Marcuzzo - had the honor of wearing the chasuble and light the silver candlestick gifted us by the Pope. " To thank the Holy Father, the sacristan of the church created a banner reading "Grazie Benedetto" in various languages. "At the end of the celebration - adds the prelate - people gathered around the banner filling it with prayers and messages of hope and in the square I was literally surrounded by hundreds of faithful asking me to send their prayers and messages of solidarity to the Pope, and inviting him to return to the Holy Land as Pope emeritus. " (S.C.)
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