Read the first part of Fr. José Antonio’s testimony about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land here.

We will continue our pilgrimage through the Holy Land, bringing together geography and faith through memories centered on Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

About 150 kilometers south of Nazareth lies Bethlehem. From the approximately 300 inhabitants it may have had when Jesus was born, it has grown today to around 30,000. A centuries-old basilica—very different from the modern one we saw in Nazareth—marks the place that commemorates the Birth of Jesus. From a large forecourt, visitors enter through a very narrow doorway barely 1.30 meters high. The historical reason for such an unusual feature can be left for another occasion. Instead, I would like to highlight the symbolism of its name: it is known as the “Door of Humility.” It speaks to the pilgrim, reminding us of the need to set aside all pride in order to reach the hidden and humble place where the Son of God, made man, was born out of love for us.

The Grotto of the Nativity and the Door of Humility

Inside the basilica, in a small space beneath the church, pilgrims can visit the Grotto of the Nativity. There, beneath a modest altar, one can kiss a fourteen-point silver star marking the place of Christ’s birth. Around the star is an inscription in Latin that reads: “Here Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary.” Once again, at this geographical point and almost effortlessly, as happened in Nazareth, the Holy Spirit awakens faith and love in the believer’s heart.

Grotto in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem

I have celebrated Mass twice in that basilica. The first time at an altar adjacent to the one I have just mentioned, inside the Grotto itself. The second time at another altar somewhat farther away, yet still within the basilica complex, in the grotto of the Chapel of Saint Catherine of Sinai. In the floor mosaic beside the altar there are two Latin inscriptions referring to the name Bethlehem, which, as is well known, means “House of Bread.” On the left side of the mosaic we read: Domus panis. On the right side: Panis vitae, that is, “Bread of Life.”

Once again, through this geographical window, the believer’s faith is rekindled. Reading those words transports us to another moment in time when Jesus, during His public ministry and in another place we also visited—the synagogue of Capernaum—proclaimed: “I am the bread of life (…) who came down from heaven” (Jn 6:35, 38). This connection between places and truths of faith now leads us to Jerusalem, where Jesus transformed ordinary bread into His Body and wine into His Blood before bringing His work of redemption to completion.

Jerusalem and the Final Steps of Jesus

As I mentioned in the first part, there were three places in Jerusalem that moved me most deeply. Jesus sanctified them in an extraordinary way during the final hours before His death. First, the Cenacle, where He instituted the Eucharist, located on Mount Zion. Then, about a half-hour walk away, following the same route Jesus took that night, we come to the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives, where the Basilica of the Agony stands. Inside, before the altar, lies a large natural rock surrounded by a crown of thorns made of wrought iron. It commemorates the place where, at the very beginning of His Passion, the Lord prayed and began to sweat what Saint Luke describes as drops of blood.

The Cenacle, Mount Zion

Finally, within the Old City of Jerusalem, we follow the path Jesus walked carrying the Cross to Calvary, where He died. It is a rocky outcrop located very close to the tomb where His body was laid. Both places are found inside the basilica appropriately known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Without any presumption, I believe that at this point the Apostle John himself might have readily embraced the expression “The Holy Land, a Window into the Life of Jesus,” which gives title to these reflections. His faith in the Resurrection of Jesus—above all a gift of divine grace—also sprang from this “geographical window,” close to the earth itself, as he saw the stone slab of the tomb empty and the linen cloths that had wrapped the Lord’s body.

When Jesus rose from the dead, those cloths remained gently flattened upon themselves, so to speak, once the physical presence of His body was no longer there. Their arrangement had no natural explanation unless the miracle of the Resurrection had taken place, shedding light on what John saw before him.

Saint John clearly recounts those moments. He writes that, running to the tomb with Peter, he arrived first: “He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying there, but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb (…). Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed” (Jn 20:4–8).

Faith in the Resurrection was born in a specific city: Jerusalem. In a precise place: the Holy Sepulcher. Before silent linen cloths.

Church of All Nations, Gethsemane

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: An Experience That Strengthens Faith

The Lord’s passage through our world has left indelible traces that continue to speak to us today. Saint John concludes his Gospel with these words: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have *Saint John concludes his Gospel with these words: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would

Faced with these words, what more could I possibly say as I bring these reflections to a close, reflections that barely manage to express a few thoughts about the five places we have contemplated? As far as possible, I would encourage those who have never been there to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. As I mentioned at the end of the previous article, the pilgrimage sites are not affected by the circumstances the country is currently experiencing, circumstances for which we once again pray to the Lord for a swift and lasting peace.

In light of everything I have written, and for anyone who may still hesitate about making such a journey, I can think of no better encouragement than Philip’s response to his friend Nathanael when he invited him to meet Jesus of Nazareth. Faced with Nathanael’s skeptical question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip simply replied with three words: “Come and see” (Jn 1:46). Nathanael accepted the invitation and was amazed by his encounter with Jesus.

I would say the same to every believer: “Yes, the Holy Land is worth it. Go there and see for yourself!”

By Fr. José Antonio García-Prieto

At the interactive displays of Saxum Visitor Center, visitors can trace the physical development of the Holy Places from their origins to the present day. It is a way of demonstrating the authenticity of the tradition that identifies and preserves them.

Visitors can see, for example, what Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre looked like after Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of temples to Venus and Jupiter on the site in AD 130. The ground had first been leveled in an effort to erase the memory of what had taken place there. Yet the very structures intended to conceal Golgotha from Christian veneration ended up preserving and identifying it. Everyone knew that beneath those temples lay the places of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Events such as these help us better understand our capacity to see beyond what is immediate, to transcend appearances, and to recognize that what is essential is invisible to the eye, as the French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry so memorably expressed through the Little Prince.

Pilgrims from Nigeria, the Philippines, Uganda, and Kenya in Jerusalem.

Isn’t this precisely the way faith teaches us to see? Faith trains our vision to recognize what truly matters, what is worth preserving, and what ultimately gives meaning to life and transforms it. Those who see what is essential can recognize the tree hidden within the seed and work with joy, confident that the fruit is already there—unseen, but real. Hope, rooted in faith, nourishes resilience: it does not deny suffering but faces it constructively.

Hope is not a disembodied virtue that dreams of a utopian future where things will somehow improve. Christian hope, on the contrary, encourages us to work diligently, day by day, striving for excellence in our daily tasks and cultivating positive relationships at every level. Ultimately, the Christian’s hope is sustained by the certainty that God chose to enter our time, to make our calendar His own—with its rhythms of work and rest, its unique days that often seem indistinguishable—in order to introduce us into His: eternity. And He does so not as honored guests, but as beloved members of His family.

Group from France at Saxum

Emmanuel, “God with us,” foretold by the prophet Isaiah, came to remain with us. He “pitched His tent among us” (John 1:14) and remains forever: truly, really, and substantially present in the Eucharist, and present in the Church, enlivened by the Holy Spirit. Hidden God, yet always present—“Sweet Guest of the Soul,” as the Pentecost Sequence describes Him. Our lives are transformed when, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we walk with Christ, listen to His Word, and sit at table with Him, ready to share the Bread that is Himself, freely given to us.

Group from Romania at Saxum

In light of this reality, the words spoken by Saint Josemaría in 1967 during an outdoor Mass on the campus of the University of Navarra remain strikingly relevant today. On that occasion, he said: “God is calling you to serve Him in and through the ordinary, material, secular activities of human life: in a laboratory, in a hospital operating room, in a military barracks, from a university chair, in a factory, in a workshop, in the fields, in the home, and throughout the vast panorama of human work, God awaits us every day.” And he added: “Never forget it: there is something holy, something divine, hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.”

On June 26, the Church celebrates his feast day—a fitting opportunity to discover more deeply his message about the greatness of ordinary life.

By Carmen Rodríguez Êyre

From September 6 to 12, I participated in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a group of friends from Poland and Italy. I must admit that before leaving, I had doubts about whether it was a good decision to attend. But during the journey, those doubts completely disappeared. I am deeply convinced that it was a good decision, and I would very much like to return, even in a tense situation like the one on those days.

The group with Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

I was particularly struck by a walk through Jerusalem on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 10. For me, as a Catholic and a priest, the Holy Mass, recalling the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, is of vital importance. While walking through the city, in the area adjacent to the Western Wall (the so-called Wailing Wall), an idea came to me that allowed me to understand the Holy Mass more deeply.

It was an ordinary day, a workday, but around the Western Wall, the last remnant of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, which Jesus had the opportunity to see, there was an atmosphere of celebration, great joy, and piety. At the wall, many Orthodox Jews were praying, some reciting the Holy Scriptures, others praying while leaning against the wall. The women’s section was even more crowded than the men’s. Shouts of joy and songs could be heard.

Currently, the Dome of the Rock, with its famous golden dome, stands where the Second Temple once was. This dome marks the rock on which Abraham was to sacrifice his son Isaac. For Muslims, this place is sacred because it was from here that Muhammad was taken up to heaven.

The group at the St. Saviour Monastry wih Fr. Alberto Pari

In the Jewish religion, the only place of worship to God, the place of sacrifice and, therefore, the connection between earth and Heaven, was the Temple of Jerusalem. When the temple was destroyed by Titus, it marked the end of the sacrifices and prayers in the temple of the Jewish religion as we know it from the pages of the Holy Scriptures.

The tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross signifies the end of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the New. The temple is no longer a building on earth, no matter how majestic and beautiful, but the Person of Jesus Christ, God and Man, in whom the perfect worship of the Father is fulfilled. However, this temple is not closed off to us. Every person, through the sacraments, each of us through participation in the Holy Mass, can join in this sacrifice and worship God with our whole life, in spirit and truth.

And if the Jews at the Western Wall are so joyful, so devout, before something that is only a memory of their temple, how much more should we rejoice in the opportunity to participate in the Holy Mass, and how much more should our lives be filled with joy.

Mass at the Church of Holy Sepulcher

This reflection relates to the observation of how many young people we met: families with small children, pregnant women, children, teenagers. And they were joyful people; you could tell they were not afraid of life. I connect this with my reflection on the temple and the Holy Mass. If they, who do not have our Christian faith, do not fear new life, which is something wonderful but also involves sacrifice, if they do not fear looking to the future with hope, how much more should we, who have discovered God’s love for us, not fear life, not fear giving ourselves, not fear giving generously of ourselves. This is a call to all to live their lives fully dedicated to God, which translates into concrete service to others. These thoughts came to me in connection with a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I recommend it to all Christians. It is a wonderful opportunity to deepen faith and share it in life.

By Stanislaw Urmanski, priest

📍Location: Near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Many people call you the “Jesusman.” What’s your real name?

My name is James, I was born in the United States, but yes — many people call me “the Jesusman” here in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Holy Sepulchre parvis Jesusman, by Fallaner- Jesusman

 Jesusman: living like Jesus

How long have you been doing this?

When I was around 33 years old I decided to live in total poverty. 

I started after a powerful spiritual experience during Holy Week. I felt called to live simply, pray in the holy places, and be a visible sign of peace. Now, I’m living in the Holy Land.

Why do you dress like Jesus?

I dress like Him not to pretend I am Him, but to remind others of Him. In this city, where He walked, taught, suffered, and rose again, I want people to stop, reflect, and remember His presence.

What do people say when they see you?

Some are curious, some take pictures. Tourists and locals often ask for prayers. Locals mostly know me and greet me kindly. Some think I’m strange — but that’s okay. Prophets were strange too.

“Jesusman” at Notre Dame, Jerusalem

What’s your message to people who come to Jerusalem?

Don’t just take photos. Listen. Walk slowly. Touch the stones, read the Gospels again while you are here, and ask yourself: “Who is Jesus for me?” Let this land speak to your soul. Follow your heart, follow your conscience.

Where do you live?

I live simply in the Christian Quarter.I live by Providence. People give me bread. I have what I need. I don’t store. I trust God. That’s freedom.

I walk to Mass every day. I pray the Rosary. I listen to many requests people ask me to pray for. I sing in the Notre Dame Chorus.  I talk to pilgrims. I pray with Muslims, Jews, atheists, backpackers. Jesus walked these same stones… I try to leave traces of love where He left His footsteps.

What’s your favorite place in Jerusalem?

The Holy Sepulcher — early in the morning, before the crowds. It’s like touching the mystery of love that conquered death. 

“Jesusman” leaving the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

What would you say to someone far from God?

He’s not far. You may be running. Stop; pray. He’ll come. Or rather — you’ll finally notice He’s been there the whole time in your heart.

Have you experienced miracles?

Many times when pilgrims come to the Holy Land they are one way and when they leave, they have another vision of their lives.  They encounter Him; then they shine, smile and become like a different person from the one that arrived.

What’s your dream?

That people would truly follow Jesus — not just admire Him. That Jerusalem would be a city of peace again. Then to be with God forever, beyond the earth.

Thank you!

Essential place to visit during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Federico and Mª Alicia, Honduras

I’m not a Christian, but I think it is a very good place, even for atheists, to learn a little of the history of the Holy Land

Thomas, Brazil

History here comes alive

Avelino, South Sudan

Thank you for the best tour about the steps of Jesus

Zeitoun family, Haifa