Pray for Pope Francis' visit to the Holy Land

His Holiness Pope Francis will embark on his first trip outside of Italy this year when he departs later this month for the Holy Land during which he will visit Jordan, Palestine, and Israel.  The pilgrimage will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting in Jerusalem of the Servant of God Pope Paul VI - who will be beatified this 19 October -  and Patriarch Athenagoras. While this Apostolic Journey will be brief - from 24-26 May - it will also be quite full, judging by the schedule which resembles the pace he kept during his first - and only - pilgrimage to Assisi.

Because of the seriousness of the present situation of the Holy Land, the importance of this visit cannot be under estimated. The Catholic Review recently summarized the situation as follows:

From Egypt to Iraq, Christians are under increasing attack and dwindling in the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, the Christian population is estimated to be down to 2 percent. In East Jerusalem, anti-Christian graffiti was found on a column outside the Notre Dame Center last week. In Syria, a Jesuit priest was murdered last month. - See more at: http://www.catholicreview.org/article/media-library/videos/cardinal-obrien-weighs-in-on-popes-holy-land-pilgrimage#sthash.If4p5hcl.dpuf

From Egypt to Iraq, Christians are under increasing attack and dwindling in the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, the Christian population is estimated to be down to 2 percent. In East Jerusalem, anti-Christian graffiti was found on a column outside the Notre Dame Center last week. In Syria, a Jesuit priest was murdered last month.

From Egypt to Iraq, Christians are under increasing attack and dwindling in the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, the Christian population is estimated to be down to 2 percent. In East Jerusalem, anti-Christian graffiti was found on a column outside the Notre Dame Center last week. In Syria, a Jesuit priest was murdered last month. - See more at: http://www.catholicreview.org/article/media-library/videos/cardinal-obrien-weighs-in-on-popes-holy-land-pilgrimage#sthash.If4p5hcl.dpuf

From Egypt to Iraq, Christians are under increasing attack and dwindling in the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, the Christian population is estimated to be down to 2 percent. In East Jerusalem, anti-Christian graffiti was found on a column outside the Notre Dame Center last week. In Syria, a Jesuit priest was murdered last month. - See more at: http://www.catholicreview.org/article/media-library/videos/cardinal-obrien-weighs-in-on-popes-holy-land-pilgrimage#sthash.If4p5hcl.dpuf

His Eminence Edwin Cardinal O'Brien, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, who works closely with the Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, described the plight of many Christians in the Holy Land in an interview with The Catholic Review: "They can’t travel freely, can’t go to their jobs, their farms, can’t make proper use of their own property. These are injustices that I hope can be remedied as a result of the attention that the Holy Father brings to the situation there."

The Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, who number some 30,000 in 35 different countries, fund and support much of the mission and work of the Church in the Holy Land. For this reason, they look to the apostolic journey with great hope because, as Cardinal O'Brien notes, "Our people sometimes feel we are the only ones invested deeply in their personal faith and generosity toward the patriarch and the other institutions there." The papal visit will, he said, help others to "see the Holy Land in the same light that the order does and will make extra effort to show solidarity with the Christians there." In this, there is much work yet to be done.

Our people sometimes feel we are the only ones invested deeply in their personal faith and generosity toward the patriarch and the other institutions there.

“Our people will be very pleased that others will see the Holy Land in the same light that the order does and will make extra effort to show solidarity with the Christians there

- See more at: http://www.catholicreview.org/article/media-library/videos/cardinal-obrien-weighs-in-on-popes-holy-land-pilgrimage#sthash.If4p5hcl.dpuf

From Egypt to Iraq, Christians are under increasing attack and dwindling in the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, the Christian population is estimated to be down to 2 percent. In East Jerusalem, anti-Christian graffiti was found on a column outside the Notre Dame Center last week. In Syria, a Jesuit priest was murdered last month. - See more at: http://www.catholicreview.org/article/media-library/videos/cardinal-obrien-weighs-in-on-popes-holy-land-pilgrimage#sthash.If4p5hcl.dpuf

From Egypt to Iraq, Christians are under increasing attack and dwindling in the Holy Land. In Jerusalem, the Christian population is estimated to be down to 2 percent. In East Jerusalem, anti-Christian graffiti was found on a column outside the Notre Dame Center last week. In Syria, a Jesuit priest was murdered last month. - See more at: http://www.catholicreview.org/article/media-library/videos/cardinal-obrien-weighs-in-on-popes-holy-land-pilgrimage#sthash.If4p5hcl.dpu

Father Rifat Bader, who is organizing the pilgrimage of the Holy Father, has composed a prayer for the Apostolic Journey, which he has invited the faithful to pray in the days ahead of the papal visit:

Heavenly Father, you never tire of being compassionate and loving. The successor of St. Peter plans to visit the Holy Land sanctified by your Son’s birth, baptism, teaching, death and resurrection. Be with him, sanctify him, and bless him. Spread the mantle of your kindness over every stage of his pilgrimage among us, that one may see in him a believing pilgrim, a wise teacher, and a humble leader.

Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed for the unity of your Church, saying: “May they all be one”, make the meeting in Jerusalem between the Holy Father and the Ecumenical Patriarch an incentive to increase our efforts for the unity of your children.
Make the encounter of the Pope with the political authorities fruitful for justice and peace. Protect all the residents of this land and the adherents of the religions of the Middle East that they may be in accord, dialogue and cooperation for the achievement of full citizenship.

Good Shepherd, whose image Pope Francis carries on his pectoral cross, walking in the spirit of humility with which you have graced him deepen within us the awareness of our Christian identity, that as true disciples, we may bear witness to your Good News and your resurrection in our churches, our society, and all the world, especially by serving the sick, the poor, and the refugees.

Bless, Lord Most Holy, this fourth papal visit to our Holy Land, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, all the saints of the Holy Land, and the two new saints, John Paul II and John XXIII. Amen.

In light of the recent anti-Christian sentiments that have been publicly displayed in the Holy Land, it is especially important for us to pray for the success of this Apostolic Journey and for the safety of the Holy Father and those who will be around him. Please, join this prayer to your daily prayers.