Pope salutes new chapel on Mount of the Beatitudes Vatican, Jan. 19 (CWNews.com)

Vatican, Jan. 19 (CWNews.com) - Pope John Paul II (bio - news) sent a special message to the Patriarch of Jerusalem, saluting the dedication of the "Domus Galilaeae" chapel on the site where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount.

In his message to Patriarch Michel Sabbah-- dated January 6, but made public only January 17-- the Pope recalled his own trip to the Holy Land in March 2000, during which he celebrated Mass at the Mount of the Beatitudes for a congregation of about 100,000.

The "Domus Galilaeae" chapel, a project begun in 1999 under the sponsorship of the NeoCatechumenate, is designed to serve as a retreat center and house of formation for priests and religious.

Israeli president objects to Jerusalem patriarch's terrorism comments NEWS BRIEFS Jan-16-2004, By Catholic News Service

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah and Israeli President Moshe Katzav exchanged harsh words during a Jan. 14 meeting with a delegation of bishops from Europe and North America. According to the daily Ha'aretz newspaper, Katzav told the delegation members, who were in Jerusalem attending a meeting on the Holy Land, that Israel would not go ahead in the peace process unless Palestinian terrorism stopped. In response, Patriarch Sabbah noted that the Israeli occupation was what was causing the terror, which would cease only once the occupation ended. The paper reported that Katzav responded angrily, accusing the patriarch of legitimizing terror. "As a spiritual leader you must condemn terror of any kind," Ha'aretz quoted Katzav as saying.

Patriarch urges bishops to affirm Holy Land's Christian character NEWS BRIEFS Jan-13-2004, By Catholic News Service