Patriarch Fouad Twal
"Patriarch Fouad Twal (Arabic: البطريرك فؤاد طوال) (born 23 October 1940 in Madaba, Jordan[1]) is a Palestinian Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since June 2008. Twal is also the Grand Prior of the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and serves as the President for the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land."
snip
"On 29 June 2008, Fouad Twal received the pallium at the hands of Pope Benedict XVI at a Mass in the Basilica of Saint Peter.[2]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fouad_Twal
Pope Names Arch. Fouad Twal Patriarch of Jerusalem
"Patriarch Twal says that freedom of movement for priests and religious between these regions is a primary pastoral concern.
“We receive a lot of help and we are grateful but at the same time we say we need more. What we need is peace. We don’t only to be a begging Church, we don’t want to be beggars with a licence. I don’t like this. We need a political horizon, it’s time to put an end to the Wall, the Checkpoints, it’s time for a Palestinian State, it’s time for an end to our problems with visa’s. The majority of our priests, nuns, schools, families are in Jordan. We need a link to Jordan we need to be able to move with freedom and liberty for our pastoral work. I am not speaking about politics, let’s leave politics to the politicians, I am a bishop, we want to move for our pastoral work and we are handicapped”.
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
"In 1099, the Crusaders captured Jerusalem, set up the Kingdom of Jerusalem and established a Latin hierarchy under a Latin Patriarch, and expelled the Orthodox Patriarch. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Patriarch_of_Jerusalem">
Bethlehem celebrates first Christmas since UN recognition of Palestine
"Festivities mark 'birth of Christ and birth of state of Palestine', patriarch tells crowds"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/25/bethlehem-christmas-un-recognition-palestine
Bethlehem marks Christmas celebrations
"Last week, in his pre-Christmas press conference, Twal praised the UN decision to upgrade Palestinian status, calling it a "step towards peace and stability in the region.""
""Israel can now negotiate on equal state-to-state terms for the good of all," he told reporters, saying the Palestinian issue remained "the cause of all conflicts in the region," and urging US President Barack Obama to take "immediate action" to push the peace process forward."
"In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the Palestinians have seen Israel move forward with settlement activity, including around Bethlehem."
"Last week alone, Israel moved forward with plans for over 5,000 new settler homes, most of them in annexed east Jerusalem, and more than 2,500 of them in the Givat HaMatos neighbourhood at the entrance to Bethlehem."
"The Palestinians say part of the new settlement activity is intended to punish them for the UN upgrade bid, which was fiercely opposed by Israel and Washington."
"But Xavier Abu Eid, an advisor to the Palestine Liberation Organisation, said this year's celebration of Christmas would be particularly meaningful for Palestinians nonetheless."
""At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the prince of hope and the prince of peace and the Palestinian people have been hoping for 64 years to achieve a just peace," he told AFP."
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=56183
Christmas celebrated around the world
"Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas was present at the Mass."
"Israel - strongly backed by the US - opposed the move, describing it as a Palestinian ploy to bypass stalled peace negotiations."
"The Church of Nativity is located in an area of the West Bank governed by the Palestinian Authority."
"In June, the church was formally named a Unesco World Heritage Site - the first to be nominated by the Palestinians, who were made full members of Unesco earlier this year."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20838547
Catholic Patriarch: Christmas Marks 'Birth of Palestine State'
Arutz Sheva - Israel National News ^ | First Publish: 12/24/2012, 9:41 PM | Chana Ya'ar
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2972056/posts
Op-Ed: EXPOSÉ: Is the Vatican the Palestinian Arab Spokesman?” Arutz Sheva
- Israel National News ^ | Friday, December 21, 2012 2:47 PM | Giulio Meotti
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2971398/posts
April 1992
"On April 1st, The Vatican announced that it "favors a Labor victory" in the June 1992 general elections in Israel."
"On April 15th, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, one of the highest ranking diplomats at The Vatican, visits Israel for the first time but only meets with Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek."
Pope Benedict XVI and Judaism
"Shortly after his election the Pontiff visited the Cologne synagogue where, speaking to Jewish leaders, he condemned Nazi ideology as "insane" and committed to strengthening ties of "friendship" between the Catholic Church and Jews.[3] However, despite much praise from Jewish leaders across Europe, Benedict received criticism from Israel for not "singling out the Jewish state as a victim of terrorism".[4]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI_and_Judaism
Holy See–Israel relations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_See_%E2%80%93_Israel_relations
A Society of Jesus
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2971768/posts?page=7#7
Retards and Jesus
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2971398/posts?page=4#4"
.
Sigh. Another anti-”Papist” screed.
So?