Lenard Fernandes
Israel, May 26: In his first visit to Israel as head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis on Sunday May 25 offered an open-air holy mass outside Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity.
Pope Francis waved to the crowd from his popemobile, as he arrived at the Manger Square.
"What a great grace it is to celebrate the Eucharist in the place where Jesus was born," said the pontiff, after receiving a grand welcome with cheers of 'Viva il Papa' from flag-waving crowd of thousands from many nations.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas was present for the sharing of peace with each other during the holy mass.
Some numbers of the Mangalorean community, active members of the Indian chaplaincy comity along with the chaplain of Indian chaplaincy Fr Tojy also attended the holy mass in Bethlehem.
"It was really a great and unforgettable moment," said Santhosh Fernandes, a Mangalorean working in Israel, who he is also the Konkani choir master of the Indian chaplaincy.