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Bishops continue to build ‘bridges not walls’ during Holy Land visit

News of the Diocese

January 27, 2018

As 10 bishops from the United States continue their Pilgrimage for Peace visit to the Holy Land, they are meeting with local clergy and religious, residents and leaders, and experiencing some sites that are historically significant to the Catholic Church.

Cleveland Bishop Nelson Perez is among those on the pilgrimage.

He said the bishops made a visit to Yad Vashem, the world holocaust remembrance center in Western Jerusalem, to remember those who lost their lives during the holocaust. The memorial has areas dedicated to the Jews who died during the holocaust and the Gentiles who aided Jews in need.

A stop in Nazareth, where Jesus spent his formative years, was among the trip?s highlights. Bishop Perez and his fellow bishops met with human rights advocates and prayed for justice and peace at the Basilica of the Annunciation.

They also visited Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, where Bishop Perez prayed for the Church of Cleveland at the Church of the Nativity. He met with a Greek Orthodox priest at the church.

During a stop at Bethlehem University and a visit with the Christian Brothers, the bishop met and talked with a young woman named Jazmin, a senior from Palestinian Hebron, who is dedicated to her studies as well as peace and freedom for her people.

The purpose of the bishops? visit to the Holy Land is to better understand the situation there and to advocate for bridges, not walls. There is a prayer event and a Mass each day at a significant site.

Bishop Perez chairs the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops? Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs. Last fall, he was elected to chair the USCCB Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church.

In addition to prayers, Masses, meetings with Palestinians and Israelis and visits to significant sites, the bishops are observing the work of Catholic Relief Services in the area.

Among the other places they?ve visited are Jerusalem, the Western Wall, Gaza, the Mount of Olives and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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