International Day of Faith on Mount Precipice, Nazareth Nov 2013
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International Day of Faith on Mount Precipice

  •   Thousands of Catholics to attend festive mass
  • 11/7/2013
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    Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau: "We attach great importance to our links with the Catholic Church. Pilgrimage is an important bridge for peace and interfaith connections."
  • Pope Benedict XVI at mass at the Mount of the Precipice, May 2009 (Photo: GPO)
     
    (Communicated by the Ministry of Tourism)

    A festive mass, led by His Beatitude, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal will take place on Sunday, 17 November 2013 at the Mount of the Precipice in Nazareth. The mass will be celebrated within the framework of the closing events of the Year of Faith, which Pope Benedict XVI declared in October 2012 and which will close in Rome the following week on 24 November 2013.

    Thousands of Catholic faithful from around the world (mainly from Italy, Spain and Brazil) as well as Catholic communities in Israel and neighboring countries are expected to participate in the event, which will begin at 09:00. An artistic program that includes choirs from Catholic communities around the world will precede the Mass. Food and souvenir stalls will be set up near the site and in the center of Nazareth. A reception, in the presence of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Tourism Ministry, and attended by Church leaders and foreign ambassadors, will take place in Nazareth at 14:30.

    The Tourism Ministry provided assistance by preparing the infrastructure for the event. In addition, the Tourism Ministry will host about 50 journalists from leading international Catholic media outlets who will broadcast live the events related to the International Day of Faith. It is estimated that the event will make a positive contribution to marketing Israel as a preferred destination for Christian tourism, which represents the largest sector in incoming tourism.

    About a month ago, the Tourism Minister hosted the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem in his office. The ministry notes that this is a unique cooperation between the Catholic Church and the government of Israel that offers hope for future cooperation.

    Tourism Minister Dr. Uzi Landau": "The event is taking place in accordance with the policy of the ministry and the State of Israel. We attach great importance to our links with the Catholic Church. The Tourism Ministry, in cooperation with the Church, will continue to work to provide all the tools that enable the faithful to celebrate their customs in the Holy Land."

    In 2012, over two million Christian tourists and pilgrims arrived in Israel, representing about 60% of all incoming tourism.