JOHN PAUL II PHONES FRIARS IN CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

VATICAN CITY, APR 16, 2002 (VIS) - During his visit yesterday afternoon with Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem, Pope John Paul telephoned the Franciscan friars at the basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, expressing his solidarity with them and thanking them for their "Christian witness."

The custos of the basilica, Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, received a phone call from Patriarch Sabbah, who told him the Pope was by his side and wished to speak to him, with a message for all the friars. Scores of Franciscans have been in this church since it was occupied by an estimated 200 Palestinians in early April and under siege since by Israeli troops.

The news of the phone call was confirmed last evening by Holy See Press Office Director, Joaquin Navarro-Valls, in a brief statement: "The Holy Father, early yesterday afternoon, telephoned the Franciscan friars in the basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Speaking with Fr. Ibrahim, the Pope thanked them for their Christian witness and sent them his apostolic blessing in these moments of special difficulty."

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