Daniel.
23. January 1964
F
ROM
I
SRAELI
N
EWSPAPERS
On 4 December 1963 Pope Paul VI announced his intention of making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
He made no mention of the State of Israel, but instead used the word “Palestine,” which of itself shows Paul VI’s attitude to the Jewish people and their state.
In Jerusalem the Pope’s decision has caused consternation. The customary prior consent when a head of state visits has not been sought. Press reaction has been hostile to a perceived slight. Doctor Herzl Rosenblum writes in a lead in Yedioth Ahronoth, “It is astounding that no attempt was made to inform us, that our ambassador to Rome learned of the decision of the Holy See from the newspapers, while members of the government heard about it on the radio.”
The Italian Information Agency has declared on behalf of the Vatican that the visit is of a purely religious nature and in no way implies recognition of the State of Israel.
The Vatican has announced that on 4 January 1964, Paul VI’s plane will land at Rabat-Ammon Airport in Jordan. From the Jordanian capital “His Holiness” will proceed in his limousine to the Old Town (Jerusalem) where he will spend the night in the Vatican Mission. The following day Paul VI will cross the border to Israel. He will visit Galilee and Nazareth, proceed to the Jewish part of Jerusalem, ascend Mount Zion, and then return to the Old Town through the Mandelbaum Gate.
On the third day of his visit the Pope will visit Beit Lechem and will then return to Rabat-Ammon, from where he will fly back to the Vatican.
A desolate stretch of road between Jenin and Meggido has been chosen as the venue where the head of the Catholic Church and the leaders of the State of Israel will meet. It is an ordinary place on the map which testifies eloquently to the state of war in which our country finds itself.
Maariv wrote that Paul VI’s choice of Meggido for the meeting had hidden implications. “Is there really nobody out there conversant with the Book of Revelation? It is explicitly stated there that at the End of Days a battle will take place at Meggido between Good and Evil (the forces of the Antichrist). Are we really going to meet the Pope there and, moreover, with a full government turnout? In recent weeks the Vatican has repeatedly declared that it does not recognize the existence of the State of Israel.
This is the spot Paul VI has chosen to meet the leaders of the Jewish state, on a ruined road nobody has traveled along since 1948.”
A ministerial commission recommended raising no objection to the Pontiff’s wishes and organizing a ceremony at Meggido. It was decided that President Zalman Shazar, Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim, and several ministers would go to Meggido. This was given a chilly reception by the Israeli public.
Dr. Zerach Warhaftig, a member of the commission, expressed the view that since the visit was of a purely religious nature, neither the president nor the members of the government should be in any hurry to pay their respects to “His Holiness.” That could perfectly well be taken care of by officials from the Ministry of Religions.
In the midst of the preparations for this exceedingly important event the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav Yitzhak Nissim, announced that he would not be going to Meggido. There was an almighty scandal. Everybody promptly forgot about controversy over the president’s attendance. The Chief Rabbi refuses to go along with the government’s decision and nobody can change his mind. Rav Yitzhak’s refusal has become a hot topic for the world’s mass media. The Pope’s pilgrimage was been pushed off the front pages and now all the talk is about a standoff between the head of the Catholic Church and the rabbi, which is, of course, being presented as a confrontation between Catholicism and the Jewish world.
Rafael Pines, Special correspondent
REPORT ON THE VISIT OF POPE PAUL VI TO ISRAEL
Pope Paul VI spent just 11 hours on the territory of Israel, from 09.40 on 5 January 1964 until 20.50 on the same day. The Pontiff entered Israel via the Jenin-Meggido Highway and left through the Mandelbaum Gate in Jerusalem.
The previous day he flew from Rome to Rabat-Ammon, from where he traveled to Jerusalem. The Jordanians exploited the Pope’s visit for a barrage of furious anti-Semitic propaganda. In the Old Town crowds of people turned out to meet the Pope and the police had difficulty in controlling the pressure. The Pontiff almost got crushed. His reception in Israel was fairly cool. In Nazareth 30,000 people gathered in the streets of the city, but little excitement was evident in Jerusalem.
The formal meeting in Meggido was attended by the President of Israel, Zalman Shazar; Prime Minister Levi Eshkol; his deputy Abba Eban; the Minister for Religious Affairs, Zerach Warhaftig; the Chairman of the Knesset, Kadish Luz; and the Minister of Police, Bechor-Shalom Shitrit. Golda Meir broke her leg the day before, so was unable to see the Pontiff, whom she “adores.” Anybody expecting the Pope to mention the State of Israel was sadly mistaken. Although government representatives tirelessly repeated that the visit was of a purely religious nature, they emphasized that Paul VI’s visit was of great significance for the state. Eleven hours after arriving, the Pope gave a farewell speech in which he first thanked the “authorities” and said he would never forget his visit to the Holy Places. He also noted that “the Church loves all,” but then, like a bolt from the blue, the Pope referred to Pius XII. “My predecessor, the great Pius XII, did everything he could during the last war to succor the persecuted irrespective of their origins. Today we hear voices which accuse this holy man of sins. We declare that these accusations could not be more unjust. His memory is sacred for us.” (Who was Pius XII? It was in large measure with the connivance of this “holy” man that 6 million Jews died. He did not raise a finger to try to save them. He had only to say a single word! How many lives could have been saved!) Even Catholics were outraged by Paul VI’s claims. The very mention of the anti-Semitic pope’s name in Jerusalem was, at best, tactless. From on board the aircraft the Pontiff sent telegrams expressing gratitude to all who had received him. He addressed King Hussein of Jordan with his full title, added his thanks to “our beloved people of Jordan.” The pilgrim did not give Israel the same treatment. His telegram began, “To President Shazar, Tel Aviv.” Not Jerusalem. God forbid.
From our own correspondent, Ariel Givat
24. July 1964, Haifa
L
ETTER TO THE
P
RIOR OF THE
L
EBANESE
P
ROVINCE OF THE
O
RDER OF
B
AREFOOT
B
ROTHERS OF THE
M
OST
H
OLY
V
IRGIN
M
ARY OF
M
OUNT
C
ARMEL
Your Grace,
I have to inform you that last month I received distressing information regarding the reaction of one of the brothers of our house to the meeting of the Pontiff with a group of political leaders in Meggido. I refer to Brother Daniel Stein who transferred to our monastery from Poland in 1959. There was a great need at that time for a Polish-speaking priest to conduct services and pastoral work among the Polish-speaking population of Haifa. Brother Daniel copes successfully with his duties and all comments from the parishioners are extremely positive, which is more than could be said of his predecessor.
After receiving an appeal from one of our brothers, I summoned Brother Daniel Stein for an exhortatory talk. He informed me of his viewpoint on certain issues of Church policy, which can be summarized as follows:
1. Brother D. believes that a Jewish Christian community should be reestablished in the land of Israel.(!)