Photo slideshow: U.S. Catholic bishops visit the Holy Land on peace pilgrimage

Eighteen Catholic bishops from across the U.S. led a peace pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where they examined the devastation left by recent conflict in Gaza. They also wanted to deliver a message: Prayer is powerful; peace is possible.

Members of the USCCB's 2014 peace pilgrimage to the Holy Land celebrate mass at the Church of the Flagellation on Via Dolorosa to pray for all victims of violence. Following the mass, the pilgrimage participants walked through the old city of Jerusalem. Photo by Jen Hardy/Catholic Relief Services

Eighteen Catholic bishops from across the U.S., together with officials from Catholic Relief Services, the bishops’ international relief agency, are leading a peace pilgrimage to the Holy Land from Sept. 11-18, 2014.

The bishops and the church relief officials wanted to examine the devastation left by the recent conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas militants. But they also wanted to deliver a message: Prayer is powerful; peace is possible. The bishops followed in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who visited the Holy Land in June, and along the path traveled by Jesus 2,000 years earlier. Here are some photos of what they saw.

All photos courtesy of Catholic Relief Services.


Please click on any photo below to view a slideshow.

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