Home to Rome

Benedict waves goodbye before boarding a plane at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv
Benedict waves goodbye before boarding a plane at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv (photo: CNS/Reuters)

Pope Benedict XVI is now flying back to the Vatican, having concluded his Holy Land papal visit.

Now that the Pope’s May 8-15 Holy Land trip is over, it’s time to assess what was accomplished during the Holy Father’s trip. Here at the Register, we’ve assigned that task to Register correspondent Father Raymond J. de Souza, who was on the ground in Israel and Palestine to cover the papal pilgrimage of peace.

Look for Father de Souza’s take on the significance of Benedict’s visit, to published in the next print issue of the Register and available online on Monday.

Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Gaza City on March 31, amid the ongoing battles Israel and the Hamas militant group.

People Explain ‘Why I Go to Mass’

‘Why go to Mass on Sundays? It is not enough to answer that it is a precept of the Church. … We Christians need to participate in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his living presence in us and among us, can we put into practice his commandment, and thus be his credible witnesses.’ —Pope Francis