Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land Fuad Twal, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Palestine, has begun the annual Christmas trek to Bethlehem, observers said. The yearly Christmas motorcade procession from Jerusalem to the West Bank site of Jesus's birth was the first such trek for Twal, 68, a Jordanian who this year succeeded retired 75-year-old Palestinian Michel Sabah, WAFA reported.
Twal is to lead midnight mass at Bethlehem's early medieval Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The news service said thousands of Palestinians, pilgrims and tourists gathered Wednesday in Manger Square to receive the patriarch and to watch marching bands accompanying the motorcade.
Witnesses said Bethlehem is seeing the largest influx of foreign Christmas tourists in eight years.
WAFA said Twal was accompanied by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Minister of Local Governance Ziad Bandak, Minister of Tourism Khuloud De'eibes, Bethlehem Governor Salah Ta'amari, Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh and other dignitaries.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: UPI)