The leaders of Ireland's four main churches left today, Monday 28 April for a four day visit to the Holy Land to express a desire for peace in the area and offer Christian hope in a situation where continuing hostilities are causing increased hardship for ordinary people.
Pictured at Belfast International Airport are (l-r) Dr John Finlay, Presbyterian Moderator, Rev Roy Cooper, President of the Methodist Church, Cardinal Seán Brady, Roman Catholic Primate, and Archbishop Alan Harper, Church of Ireland Primate are responding to the urgent need for solidarity with local Christians and will bring a message of peace from the Churches in Ireland.
The leaders' visit will focus mainly on Bethlehem and Jerusalem where they will meet local church leaders and representatives from the Palestinian Authority and Israeli Government and as well as seeing at first hand the relief and development work that is being undertaken by partners of Christian Aid and Trócaire.
The leaders will also take part in a joint service with local Christians at the Shepherds' Field near Bethlehem on the theme of 'keeping watch; a service of hope for peace' and visit the Holocaust Memorial at Yad Vashem.
The leaders will return on Saturday 3 May.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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