Cardinal urges Holy Land Christians to be examples of selfless love

Published: 2008-01-11

ROME (CNS) -- During a visit to the Holy Land, U.S. Cardinal John P. Foley urged Christians there to be an example of selfless love and pray for those who persecute them. The cardinal, head of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, made his remarks in a series of homilies and talks Jan. 7-10 while visiting Jerusalem and two parishes in Jordan. The cardinal sent Catholic News Service in Rome his texts before his visit. In his Jan. 9 homily at the parish in Madaba, Jordan, the cardinal wrote, "In an age and in a land where so many people seem to live by the 'lex talionis' -- an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth -- it is extremely important for us as Christians to give an example of selfless love." He wrote it was important not just to pray for one's own loved ones, but also "for those who sometimes seem to treat us unjustly." In his Jan. 10 homily at the parish in Zerka, Jordan, the cardinal expressed his joy at being able to celebrate Mass with the faithful who were "descendants of the first followers of Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ."

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