April 26, 2010, Updated September 24, 2012
Bethlehem-Jerusalem-Peace-Run-Runners

Photo courtesy of Sasson Tiram.
Bethlehem-Jerusalem peace run.

Hundreds of runners – Italian Catholics, Israelis and Palestinians – participated in the annual Bethlehem-Jerusalem Peace Run yesterday, officially opening the Pope John Paul II Games 2010.

First, participants signed a joint proclamation calling for the faithful around the world to visit the Holy Land and work for peace and coexistence. Then they ran from the Church of the Nativity Plaza in Bethlehem to the Davidson Center in the Old City of Jerusalem.

The runners are among the one thousand Catholic pilgrims from Italy who are in Israel this week to participate in the sporting activities that comprise the Pope John Paul II Games.

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