Pope Benedict’s homily at open-air Mass in Jerusalem

VATICAN CITY — Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s homily during an outdoor Mass in the Josaphat Valley in Jerusalem:

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord,

“Christ is risen, alleluia!” With these words I greet you with immense affection. I thank Patriarch Fouad Twal for his words of welcome on your behalf, and before all else I express my joy at being able to celebrate this Eucharist with you, the church in Jerusalem. We are gathered beneath the Mount of Olives, where our Lord prayed and suffered, where he wept for love of this city and the desire that it should know “the path to peace” (Lk 19:42),

Pope Benedict’s remarks during visit to the co-cathedral of the Latin Patriarchate

VATICAN CITY — Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks during a brief visit to the Latin Patriarchate’s co-cathedral in Jerusalem. The Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem was present:

Pope Benedict’s remarks at the chapel of the Cenacle

VATICAN CITY — Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks during a visit with the Catholic ordinaries of the Holy Land to the Chapel of the Cenacle in Jerusalem. The chapel is the upper room of Jesus’ Last Supper as well as the Pentecost descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles:

Pope Benedict’s remarks during visit to chief rabbis of Jerusalem

VATICAN CITY — Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks during a courtesy visit to two chief rabbis of Jerusalem at the Hechal Shlomo center:

Pope Benedict’s written prayer left at Jerusalem’s Western Wall

VATICAN CITY — Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s written prayer he left during a visit to Jerusalem’s Western Wall:

God of all the ages,

on my visit to Jerusalem, the “City of Peace”, spiritual home to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, I bring before you the joys, the hopes and the aspirations, the trials, the suffering and the pain of all your people throughout the world.

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

hear the cry of the afflicted, the fearful, the bereft; send your peace upon this Holy Land, upon the Middle East, upon the entire human family; stir the hearts of all who call upon your name, to walk humbly in the path of justice and compassion.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him” (Lam 3:25)!

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Texts of addresses by Pope Benedict XVI and other dignitaries during the apostolic visit to Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories are also available in the May 21 and May 28 issues of Origins CNS Documentary Service. For information about a subscription or to purchase individual issues, contact Origins at origins@catholicnews.com.

Pope Benedict’s remarks during visit to the Dome of the Rock

VATICAN CITY — Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks at the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem during a courtesy visit with the grand mufti: