Not only did we see the upside down cross at this website - ABC gave us a glimpse of it and is on video at Yahoo Website. This gave us the courage to publish this information.
80,000 hear
Pope's new Sermon on the Mount
By Alan
Philps on the Mount of the Beatitudes
[www.telegraph.co.uk - March 25.2000- England] THE Pope preached an updated sermon on the Mount yesterday, urging the world's youth to become "courageous apostles" of the teachings that Jesus pronounced on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
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More than 80,000 people gathered for a papal Mass on a site that looked at times like a religious rock festival. Young people came from 80 countries, clutching guitars, tambourines and bongo drums. When the Mass was over, the site was alive with people dancing amid national flags and papal banners. Overnight rain had turned the site into a vast muddy field, and some participants were reminded of the rain-soaked Woodstock festival as young pilgrims tore up plastic bags to sit on and crouched under blankets. |
But despite threatening clouds, the worst of the rain held off until the two-and-a-half-hour Mass was over. The occasion, on the fifth day of the Pope's week-long pilgrimage to the Holy Land, offered a rare respite from political controversy, allowing him to concentrate on one of his favourite themes: encouraging young people to keep the faith.
The Pope said, speaking in English from a grey throne set on a vast stage: "We sit on this hill like the first disciples, and we listen to Jesus. It is wonderful that you are here." It was at this spot that Jesus is believed to have told His disciples, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven" and "Blessed are the peacemakers".
The Pope said it was hard for young people to accept such teachings when the proud and violent, the unscrupulous and the devious seemed to prosper. But they should not listen to the "voice of evil". He said: "Like the first disciples at the Sea of Galilee, you must leave your boats and nets behind, and that is never easy, especially when you face an uncertain future and are tempted to lose faith in your Christian heritage."
Many of the faithful were tired and hungry, as they had to travel and wait all night because of the strict timetable imposed by Israeli police. Sinking up to their shoelaces in mud, some complained that the Israeli tourist posters - with their promise of 365-day sun - had misled them. But there was a strong spirit. The leader of a party of young French people said: "Jesus Christ is very happy today. He can see that His mission is not a failure."
Michael Anderson, leader of a youth group from the parish of St Charles Borromeo in central London, said it did not matter that the Pope, aged 79, was born in a different era from the teenagers. "I am overwhelmed to be here. I feel loved by him, which is crazy when you think that there are more than 80,000 people here. The Pope does not speak down to young people; he tells them things clearly."
Most of the young were taken to Israel by the Neocatechumenal Way, a lay organisation that aims to get lapsed Catholics to return to their baptismal vows. The Pope, who strongly supports the initiative, dedicated a house of retreat for the movement at the site.
Fewer than half those present were local Arab Christians. For them, the occasion was mainly political. Sami Abu-Dayyeh, 25, from the Palestinian town of Bir Zeit, who was waving a Palestinian flag, said: "This is the first time we have been allowed here." Tony Ary, another Palestinian, said: "But for the Pope sitting there, waving this flag would get us into trouble."
After the Mass the Pope met Ehud Barak, the Israeli Prime Minister. The meeting was arranged in Galilee because the Vatican does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the whole of Jerusalem. Mr Barak said the Pope's visit to Israel was of "immense historic importance" and marked a major step in the reconciliation between Christianity and the Jewish people.
The prime minister said he believed it would improve the atmosphere for Middle East peace moves.
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