US Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Saturday detailed the moment he had to evacuate as Iran launched a missile attack on Israel during a visit to Bethlehem.
The Archbishop of New York is in Israel for a week to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA). He is the president of the association.
Cardinal Dolan began his tour in Jerusalem on Friday and arrived in Bethlehem on Saturday, the day Iran launched a missile attack on Israel.
“Everything looks calm and bright this Sunday in Bethlehem, and it’s the same for us. We feel safe and secure. The air raid sirens went off at midnight last night, and we That wasn’t the case when we had to descend,” and seek safety at Notre Dame Center. ” Dolan said in a video shared on X, “But things seem to be good for now, and we are grateful for that.”
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Cardinal Dolan says he is safe in Jerusalem after Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel. (X/@CardinalDolan)
Dolan led Mass on Sunday at the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace at the Jerusalem Notre Dame Center near Bethlehem.
“We can never forget where we come from. We came from here – it’s a duty, but it’s a joy. Thank you for the hope you’ve given us!” Dolan wrote in a post about X:
After the Mass, Dolan met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other government officials in Ramallah, West Bank.
Dolan will remain in Israel and Palestinian-controlled territory until Thursday, according to an earlier press release from the Archdiocese of New York.
He will meet with other Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders and visit Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations.
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Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan (center) of New York celebrates Mass in the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace at Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem on April 13, 2024. Later that evening, the cardinal was reportedly found safe in Jerusalem as Iran began an unprecedented missile and drone attack on Israel. (OSV News Photo/Sinan Abu Mayzer, Reuters)
Dolan’s visit was planned before Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, which led Israel to declare war on Hamas and launch airstrikes and a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.
In an interview with OSV News published on April 4, CNEWA Public Affairs Director Michael La Civita said Cardinal Dolan does not plan to visit Gaza, but he does plan to meet with the families of the hostages. Ta.
“The Church must always keep the window of dialogue open,” said La Civita, who is accompanying the cardinal. “The cardinal is going there as a chair to be a vehicle for that, a symbol of a different path…hopefully so that we can have a just peace.”
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Cardinal Dolan began his visit to Jerusalem with prayer and a Shabbat table dinner with close friends Rabbi David and Sharon Rosen, whose home overlooks the Mount of Olives. (X/@CardinalDolan)
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Sunday that U.S. forces destroyed 80 drones and at least six ballistic missiles from Iran and Yemen in Saturday’s strikes in Israel.
The attack came weeks after Iran blamed Israel for a deadly attack on its consulate in Syria in which the top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Overseas Quds Force was killed.
The attack marks the first time Iran has launched a full-scale attack against Israel, despite more than 40 years of hostilities.
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In response to the attack, the Pope said in a statement: “I sincerely appeal for an end to all actions that risk dragging the Middle East into even greater conflict and that could incite a spiral of violence.”
FOX News’ Greg Wenner contributed to this report.
