Shireen's image blessing and the pope's hands clasping Anton's. It has been five months since May 11, when journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed while on duty during an Israeli raid in Jenin. On Wednesday, Oct. 26, her family was received at the Vatican and was able to greet the Pope on the sidelines of the general audience. ANTON ABU AKLEH Brother of Shireen Abu Akleh “As a Christian family it is important the solidarity we received from the Pope, from the cardinals, from the Vatican”. Accompanying Shireen's family was Brother Ibrahim Faltas, Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land. Br. IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land "The Holy Father listened carefully to Shireen's story, he was very moved. He promised the family a prayer, to always remember, and brought condolences to the family." In the afternoon, a divine liturgy in suffrage of Shireen was celebrated in the Greek Melkite church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Also among those present was the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, H. B. Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The well-attended celebration was an opportunity to pray for peace in the Holy Land. Br. IBRAHIM FALTAS, ofm Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land "Everyone prayed for one thing: for peace in the Holy Land, for peace in this land, which has not seen peace for so long." ANTON ABU AKLEH Brother of Shireen Abu Akleh “We prayed for peace and we still hope that something good may come out from this, so that we can be able to achieve peace”. Read More