Pope Francis visited sacred sites recognized by Muslims, Christians, and Jews, including the Western Wall. He met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and a range of other religious leaders, made unexpected stops at a terror memorial and at the separation wall that surrounds the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and he inserted himself into the peace process with a surprise invitation to a prayer summit at the Vatican. More →

May 30, 2014

During the days just before Easter, Christians reflect on the fundamental events that shape their hopes as Christians. “The story of the passion, death, and resurrection, especially the resurrection,” says Father James Martin, SJ, “is at the center of a Christian’s faith.” More →

April 17, 2014

Of all the tourists who go to Israel and its surroundings each year, it’s estimated that more than half of them are Christian pilgrims visiting the holiest sites of the Christian story. It was Pope Clement VI who made the Franciscans the official guardians of these sites seven centuries ago. More →

March 28, 2014

The Garden Tomb and Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem “tell the same story” about the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, says Garden Tomb deputy director Steve Bridge, “but on a different site.” More →

March 30, 2012