753 Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians attend World Youth Day

First Massive Holy Land Delegation at a World Youth Day

TEL AVIV, AUGUST 11 (ZENIT.org-FIDES).- Three aircraft left Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport carrying 753 young Christians to Rome for the World Youth Day celebration. The Holy Land delegation includes youths from Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.

The 424 young pilgrims from Israel were accompanied by 5 priests and 3 sisters. 190 young Christians from the Palestinian territories travelled with 8 priests to Rome. The Church in Jordan sent 139 youths with 6 priests and one sister. Wadie Abunassar, spokesman for the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, which organized the pilgrimage for the 753 lucky youths, said: "this is the largest group yet that the Holy Land has sent to a World Youth gathering."

Zenit - The World Seen From Rome