Top Roman Catholic in Holy Land prays for peace

[December 24, 2009]  BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) -- The Roman Catholic Church's top cleric in the Holy Land is delivering Christmas wishes for long-elusive peace in the Middle East.

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal began the Christmas celebrations with an annual procession from Jerusalem to the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Jesus' traditional birthplace.

He and his convoy of dozens of vehicles entered the Palestinian territory Thursday through a massive steel gate in Israel's heavily guarded West Bank separation barrier. Israeli soldiers and police in jeeps escorted him.

After he passed into Bethlehem, Twal said, "The wish that we most want, we most aspire for, is not coming. We want peace."

Thousands tourists and local Christians were already milling around Manger Square when he arrived for the festivities.

[Associated Press]

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