January 4th 1964 - Pope Paul VI Visits Israel

Pope VI's Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Scott 375-378 (1964) Pope Paul VI made the first-ever papal visit to Israel on January 4, 1968. He dedicated the trip to “Christian unity,” especially between Catholics and the Greek Orthodox church. This visit of Pope Paul VI laid the foundation for future popes, and the Catholic world, to begin reconciling with their Jewish brethren. During his visit the Pope: Met with President Shazar in Megiddo Visited the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth Met with Patriarch Athenagoras Toured of sites on the shores of the Sea of Galilee Held ceremonies on Mount Zion in Jerusalem Celebrated Mass in Bethlehem Upon his return to St. Peter’s Square, Paul VI said that the trip to Israel was short but significant. “You will have seen that my visit was not just an unusual spiritual event; this visit could be of enormous historical importance,” a “Vatican Insider” reported him as saying. Research: • Researching this trip I found the text of serveral of Pope Paul's speeches on the Vatican website: To The Armenian Patriarch Yegheshe Derderian Farewell of Pope Paul VI Article Links: • Rev. H.A. Phinney, “Pilgrimage Of Pope Paul VI To The Holy Land” Vatican Notes, Vol. 16, No. 1, p. 3-5 (1967) • Michael Latmothe “The Pilgram Pope: Travels of Pope Paul VI - Part I” Vatican Notes, Vol. 60, No. 352, p. 10-15 (2012) • Greg Pirozzi “Pope Paul VI - 1964 FDC Visit to the Holy Land” Vatican Notes, Vol. 63, No. 365, p. 44 (2015)