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Friday May 27, 2005

Israel honors late pope with park, stamp

vatican city (ap) | Israel is honoring the late Pope John Paul II with a commemorative stamp recalling his visit in 2000 and a park in his name in the Galilee, Israel’s embassy to the Holy See said.

The stamp depicts the pontiff’s stop at the Western Wall, where he left a letter asking forgiveness for acts committed against Jews by Christians throughout history.

One of the hallmarks of John Paul’s 26-year papacy was his effort at improving Jewish-Catholic relations. The Vatican established formal diplomatic relations with Israel during his papacy, and he was the first pope to visit a synagogue, speaking in Rome’s main synagogue in 1986.

The embassy also announced plans to create a park in the Galilee, where the pope celebrated a Mass during his pilgrimage to Israel. It will be dedicated to John Paul and include an amphitheater to host meetings and events.

The stamp was issued this week, which would have been the pope’s 85th birthday. It bears John Paul’s prayer for peace in the Holy Land, expressed during the visit: “May peace be God’s gift to the land He chose as His own.”

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