Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead a mass outside the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, in Manger Square in the West Bank town of Bethlehem May 13, 2009. Source: Reuters

Catholic priests attend a mass led by Pope Benedict XVI outside the Church of the Nativity. Source: Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI (C) blesses the holy communion with other priests during mass in Manger Square in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Source: Reuters

Pope Benedict XVI, centre, gestures to worshippers as he leaves a mass, in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity. Source: Associated Press

A general view shows the mass with Pope Benedict XVI at Manger Square in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Source: Getty Images

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass on Manger's Square in Bethlehem

From the day of his birth, Jesus was “a sign of contradiction” (Lk 2:34), and he continues to be so, even today. The Lord of hosts, “whose origin is from old, from ancient days” (Mic 5:2), wished to inaugurate his Kingdom by being born in this little town, entering our world in the silence and humility of a cave, and lying, a helpless babe, in a manger. Here, in Bethlehem, amid every kind of contradiction, the stones continue to cry out this “good news”, the message of redemption which this city, above all others, is called to proclaim to the world. For here, in a way which surpassed every human hope and expectation, God proved faithful to his promises. In the birth of his Son, he revealed the coming of a Kingdom of love: a divine love which stoops down in order to bring healing and lift us up; a love which is revealed in the humiliation and weakness of the Cross, yet triumphs in a glorious resurrection to new life. Christ brought a Kingdom which is not of this world, yet a Kingdom which is capable of changing this world, for it has the power to change hearts, to enlighten minds and to strengthen wills. By taking on our flesh, with all its weaknesses, and transfiguring it by the power of his Spirit, Jesus has called us to be witnesses of his victory over sin and death. And this is what the message of Bethlehem calls us to be: witnesses of the triumph of God’s love over the hatred, selfishness, fear and resentment which cripple human relationships and create division where brothers should dwell in unity, destruction where men should be building, despair where hope should flourish!

-- Pope Benedict XVI. # Holy Mass on the Manger's Square in Bethlehem (May 13, 2009)

Pope Benedict XVI visits Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem

How much the people of this camp, these Territories, and this entire region long for peace! In these days, that longing takes on a particular poignancy as you recall the events of May 1948 and the years of conflict, as yet unresolved, that followed from those events. You are now living in precarious and difficult conditions, with limited opportunities for employment. It is understandable that you often feel frustrated. Your legitimate aspirations for permanent homes, for an independent Palestinian State, remain unfulfilled. Instead you find yourselves trapped, as so many in this region and throughout the world are trapped, in a spiral of violence, of attack and counter-attack, retaliation, and continual destruction. The whole world is longing for this spiral to be broken, for peace to put an end to the constant fighting.

Towering over us, as we gather here this afternoon, is a stark reminder of the stalemate that relations between Israelis and Palestinians seem to have reached – the wall. In a world where more and more borders are being opened up – to trade, to travel, to movement of peoples, to cultural exchanges – it is tragic to see walls still being erected. How we long to see the fruits of the much more difficult task of building peace! How earnestly we pray for an end to the hostilities that have caused this wall to be built!

On both sides of the wall, great courage is needed if fear and mistrust is to be overcome, if the urge to retaliate for loss or injury is to be resisted. It takes magnanimity to seek reconciliation after years of fighting. Yet history has shown that peace can only come when the parties to a conflict are willing to move beyond their grievances and work together towards common goals, each taking seriously the concerns and fears of the other, striving to build an atmosphere of trust. There has to be a willingness to take bold and imaginative initiatives towards reconciliation: if each insists on prior concessions from the other, the result can only be stalemate.

To all of you I renew my plea for a profound commitment to cultivate peace and non-violence, following the example of Saint Francis and other great peacemakers. Peace has to begin in the home, in the family, in the heart. I continue to pray that all parties to the conflict in these lands will have the courage and imagination to pursue the challenging but indispensable path of reconciliation. May peace flourish once more in these lands! May God bless his people with peace!

-- Pope Benedict XVI, Visit to the Refugee Camp Al Aida' in Bethlehem (May 13, 2009)

Pope Benedict XVI visits Caritas Baby Hospital, Bethlehem

Mary, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Mother of the Redeemer: we join the many generations who have called you “Blessed”. Listen to your children as we call upon your name. You promised the three children of Fatima that “in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph”. May it be so! May love triumph over hatred, solidarity over division, and peace over every form of violence! May the love you bore your Son teach us to love God with all our heart, strength and soul. May the Almighty show us his mercy, strengthen us with his power, and fill us with every good thing (cf. Lk 1:46-56). We ask your Son Jesus to bless these children and all children who suffer throughout the world. May they receive health of body, strength of mind, and peace of soul. But most of all, may they know that they are loved with a love which knows no bounds or limits: the love of Christ which surpasses all understanding (cf. Eph 3:19). Amen.

Pope Benedict XVI, Visit to the Caritas Baby Hospital (May 13, 2009)

Pope Benedict XVI meets with Mahmoud Abbas - I earnestly beg the Almighty for peace, a just and lasting peace, in the Palestinian Territories"

My pilgrimage to the lands of the Bible would not be complete without a visit to Bethlehem, the City of David and the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Nor could I come to the Holy Land without accepting the kind invitation of President Abbas to visit these Territories and to greet the Palestinian people. I know how much you have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the turmoil that has afflicted this land for decades. My heart goes out to all the families who have been left homeless. This afternoon I will pay a visit to the Aida Refugee Camp, in order to express my solidarity with the people who have lost so much. To those among you who mourn the loss of family members and loved ones in the hostilities, particularly the recent conflict in Gaza, I offer an assurance of deep compassion and frequent remembrance in prayer. Indeed, I keep all of you in my daily prayers, and I earnestly beg the Almighty for peace, a just and lasting peace, in the Palestinian Territories and throughout the region.

Mr President, the Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbors, within internationally recognized borders. Even if at present that goal seems far from being realized, I urge you and all your people to keep alive the flame of hope, hope that a way can be found of meeting the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians for peace and stability. In the words of the late Pope John Paul II, there can be “no peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness” (Message for the 2002 World Day of Peace). I plead with all the parties to this long-standing conflict to put aside whatever grievances and divisions still stand in the way of reconciliation, and to reach out with generosity and compassion to all alike, without discrimination. Just and peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the Middle East can only be achieved through a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect, in which the rights and dignity of all are acknowledged and upheld.

I make this appeal to the many young people throughout the Palestinian Territories today: do not allow the loss of life and the destruction that you have witnessed to arouse bitterness or resentment in your hearts. Have the courage to resist any temptation you may feel to resort to acts of violence or terrorism. Instead, let what you have experienced renew your determination to build peace. Let it fill you with a deep desire to make a lasting contribution to the future of Palestine, so that it can take its rightful place on the world stage. Let it inspire in you sentiments of compassion for all who suffer, zeal for reconciliation, and a firm belief in the possibility of a brighter future.

-- Excerpts from Welcoming ceremony in the square in front of the presidential palace, in Bethlehem (May 13, 2009)

Day 6 - Pope Benedict in Bethlehem - Mass in Manger Square; Grotto of the Nativity; Caritas Baby Hospital and Aida Refugee Camp

On the Schedule Today (Wednesday May 13, 2009)

This post will be updated with news and commentary on the day's events

• 09.00 - Welcoming ceremony in the square in front of the presidential palace, in Bethlehem
• 10.00 - Holy Mass in Manger Square, Bethlehem
• 12.30 - Luncheon with the Ordinaries of the Holy Land, the Franciscan community and the Papal Entourage at the Casa Nova monastery in Bethlehem
• 15.30 - Private visit to the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem
• 16.10 - Visit to the Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem
• 16.45 - Visit to the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem
• 18.00 - Courtesy visit to the president of the Palestine National Authority in the presidential palace of Bethlehem
• 18.40 - Farewell ceremony in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace

Spoken words of Pope Benedict

• Welcoming ceremony in the square in front of the presidential palace, in Bethlehem (May 13, 2009)
• Holy Mass on the Manger's Square in Bethlehem (May 13, 2009)
• Visit to the Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem (May 13, 2009)
• Visit to the Refugee Camp Al Aida' in Bethlehem (May 13, 2009)
• Farewell ceremony in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace (May 13, 2009)

Coverage and Commentary

• Pope affirms support for Palestinian state, celebrates Mass in Bethlehem, by Cindy Wooden and Judith Sudilovsky. (Catholic News Service)
• In Bethlehem, Pope Laments Israeli Wall, by Rachel Donadio (New York Times)
• Pope urges end to conflict that walls off Bethelehem (Reuters)
• Don't be afraid to break ‘stalemate of fear’ Pope tells Palestinians (Catholic News Agency)
• Today, Benedict belonged to the Palestinians, by John Allen, Jr. (National Catholic Reporter)