{UAH} The Pope's last day in the Holy Land crowns him as real world hero!

Pope Francis has proved he is Pope for all and his mission is to bring order

into world order! Since his arrival in the troubled Middle East the scenes that 

have accompanied his pilgrimage just attest to the heroism of this great Pontiff

in whom the whole region has invested its hopes for the return of peace and tranqulity

in this part of the world. A peaceful Middle East will serve as a model to the rest of the

world, and peace will come to the world thanks to this man of wisdom who has been acclaimed

everywhere as a real father visiting his children!!

The whole of today has been concentrated on Jerusalem where he has left a permanent impact that

will always astonish all religious groups, all ethnic groups and all Christian groups!

He began the day with a visit to the Chief Mufti of Israel at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hundreds of Moslems mobbed him

as he in return appealed for co-operation and togetherness in  daily dealings. He was exchanging in a real 

brotherly way every time he was asked a question,etc...

He then visited the Western Wall, the holiest place in Judaism and he slotted a message in the apertures of the wall.

Of course he was calling for peace!

He then moved on to the Yad Vashen holocaust memorial erected to rember the 6 million Jews brutally killed by the

anti-human Nazi beasts during World War II. Before reaching the Memorial he requested to make a brief stop at a small

memorial dedicated to the recent victims of violence whose lives perished in a bomb attack. ( A gesture appreciated

by all). On his arrival at the Yad Vashen he was saluted by officials from the Israeli Govt and from the Jewish community.

And inside the centre a large audience was at hand to receive him. When his turn to give a word came he moved his listeners by often citing the famous biblical passage " Adam, where are you? "  This served good tool for the Pope to very strongly condemn anti-semitism and all deadly kinds of discriminations. In the end he was introduced to the most notable survivors of the holocaust, most of whom remained alone in life when all parents and relatives were slain. Some of these people escaped mysteriously from the camps! The Pope embraced each one of them. At the close of the ceremony the officials gave a gift to the Pope.

Next stop was at Solomon's Palace where the Pope visited the two Grand Rabbis, of Jerusalem and of Israel.

The Grand Israel Rabbi thanked the Pope for very strongly condemning anti-semitism. He further thanked him for the many very good things he has done for humanity, and thanked him also for having honoured their invitation.

In reply, the Pope thanked them for the warm welcome accorded to him. He emphasized that need to be brothers all the time. He was given a historical gift, a document containing all peace agreements with Egypt.. There was a family photo after which the Pope was introduced in the main assembly hall to the acclamations of hundreds of dignitaries officially invited for the occasion. He was introduced to the assembly as a  "great friend" who did much to promote very good relations with the Jews in Argentine. The Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem qualified the Pope as an example to the whole world! Other Jewish notables also praised the Pope and requested him to continue condemning very firmly all bad acts.

In reply the Pope thanked his hosts for the good words and promised to continue in Rome what he was doing in Argentina. He encouraged that spirit of brotherhood to inspire the necessity of working together as true brothers. The assembly presented him with an engraved ornament scripted with the ten commandments. In return the Pope gave them silvery sculpture of an olive tree.

  From there the Pope paid a courtesy visit to the Israeli Premier before paying an official courtesy visit to the President

with whom he held private talks after signing the visitors' book and receiving a gift from the poor and disabled childrfen of Nazareth. Peres commended the Pope for having established peace between Christians and others. And thanked him for bringing peace with him to Israel!! As for the Pope, he thanked Peres for his words adding that he felt happy to be with a man of wisdom! Then, outside the palace, both leaders planted a memorial tree before moving to a specially prepared venue where the Pope was received with big cheers and ululations from the hundreds of guests invited for the occasion. A choir composed of school children repeatedly intoned the " Alleluia! "

In another official speech before the great public Peres extended a very warmly welcome to the Pope. He insisted on the policy of safeguarding the holy places as being a fundamental obligation. He requested for collaboration in order to stop acts of terrorism. He mentioned that his country was with His Holiness in all his efforts for peace. He affirmed to the Pope that his visit would receive good echoes from all over the region. He concluded by noting that the pope had constructed a new path for peace in Israel and that his blessing would remain!!

For his part, the Pope Thanked Peres for his words and expressed his admiration for him as a man of peace. He stated there was need to contribute to peace by rejecting all kinds of extremism. He further pointed out that he prayed for him ( Peres ). nd he requested Peres to pray for him.The Pope also pointed out that he prayed for all people of Israel and the Middle East. The Pope insisted on rejecting with great vigour all that which is opposed to peace especially in the Middle East.and he requested for a full rejection of racism and anti-semitism.

Then the children's choir chanted a song calling for peace. And the ceremony ended with people shouting loudly,

 " Long live the Pope! "

Then news came in pointing on June 6, 2014 as being the date set for the prayers for peace at the Vatican where the Presidents of Israel and Palestine will participate at the Pope's invitation.

 The Pope then proceeded to another centre where he was hosted to a  luncheon by an inter-religious charitable organization.

After that he went to Gethseman Basilica to meet the religious, seminarians, priests and bishops. When he arrived 

the bells tolled very solemnly. And he entered the Basilica amid cheers and ululations ( there were many Africans among the group ). He immediately went to venerate the holy rock on which Christ knelt for his last prayers before being arrested. Holy texts on Christ's passion were read. The pope said Christ withdrew in that spot on that rock to save mankind. He then affirmed to the religious that the whole Church supported them and he too, as Pope, was their servant!

He recited with the congregation The Our Father and gave his blessing. On getting out, he planted a tree specially sent in from his native Argentine.

The last ceremony in Jerusalem was Mass at the Cenacle where christ had his Last Supper and where He appeared after resurrection. The Pope called this place a corner of charity and sharing., and also trhe spot where the Church was born.

After Mass the Provincial Superior of the Franciscan Fathers Congregation, the ones officially charged with keeping the holy places in the Holy Land, thanked the Pope for coming to the Holy Land. And ensured him of their commitment to work hard for the safety of the holy places.

In the evening the Pope left for rome after being seen off at the airport by both the President and the Prime Minister.

He came with a very high powered delegation among whom was the Mufti of Buenos Aires and the Chief Rabbi of Argentina, both requested by the pope to accompany him. Then there were the many Vatican officials who included senior cardinals, and among them was Frfench Cardinal Tauran, head of Vatican's inter-religious dialogue commission and many telespectators and viewers the world all over were glad to have a glance at this cardinal who, in his capacity as cardinal deacon, was the one who announced to the two billion televiewers the name of the new Pope. 

Yes, this new Pope who in so short a time has become the undisputed world leader to whom everyone now runs. And the complex Middle East, including the Holy Land, is proving ready for peace, thanks to the very wise approach this Pope has forged in order to touch correctly on stiff unsolvable global issues! He has come out of the Holy Land as  a real world hero and symbol of success!!

Dr G.H. Kkolokolo  ( Paris / France )