The Florence mayor's visit to Israel and Palestine, Feb. 15-19, was supposed to last four days. But Dario Nardella, who came to the Holy Land at the invitation of the Custos, was forced to return to his city ahead of time because of a terrible workplace accident in which four people lost their lives. Br IBRAHIM FALTAS Custodial Vicar of the Holy Land Truly thank you. I'm sorry for this tragedy that happened in Florence, that more people died, also there are people under the rubble. And really we are with you. And this unfortunately is something that grieves us deeply and I on behalf of the whole city and the administration express the deepest condolences for the families of the victims. DARIO NARDELLA Mayor Of Florence Here in the Basilica of the Nativity we will pray for the victims of this tragedy. A tragedy that should not have happened because it is not possible that in a civilized country like Italy you can still die on the job, that you can die on a construction site. It is unacceptable and this is unfortunately something that grieves us deeply. This event marked the journey. A same pain in the heart of the mayor of Florence and the mayors he met, a mission that becomes closeness to those who suffer events for which they are not to blame. In this spirit of listening and deep friendship, in the sign of Giorgio La Pira, the Mayor of Florence visited some of the Custody's missions, such as Dar el Majius and the Piccirillo Center. He also met with Ron Huldai, mayor of Tel Aviv, together with the families of the Israeli hostages, as well as with the mayor of Bethlehem, Anton Salman, whose grandfather, also a mayor, had signed the historic twinning between the two cities, along with Giorgio La Pira. DARIO NARDELLA Mayor Of Florence This mission was born out of a great desire, to retrace the footsteps of Mayor Saint Giorgio La Pira. Coming to the Holy Land at a dramatic moment like the war in Gaza. A moment that causes us pain, but also imposes on us a predisposition to listen. I thank the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Land for their invitation. I am here with them at this time in Bethlehem to make a prayer together in the Basilica of the Nativity. Organizing the trip were Friar Matteo Brena, Holy Land Commissioner for Italy, along with Friar Ibrahim Faltas, custodial vicar. Br IBRAHIM FALTAS Custodial Vicar of the Holy Land First of all we thank the mayor of Florence who came at this very difficult time for all of Palestine, for all of the Holy Land, for Palestine, for Israel, for everyone. It is really a very, very difficult time. He came this visit of solidarity, of support for everybody. We are in Bethlehem and he met with the mayor of Bethlehem. Br MATTEO BRENA, ofm Commissioner of the Holy Land This trip we have marked it on two verbs: to listen and to be close. To listen to the reality of a land that is a land that is experiencing challenges but retains a spiritual heritage. To be close especially to the people of this land who are experiencing a time of pain and loneliness in this pain. So with the mayor of Florence we thought of a few, but significant days, just visiting the holy places, visiting also the landmarks of the communities of this land. Due to Nardella's early return, meetings with the mayor of Ramallah and Jericho did not take place, and yet it was possible to greet the Patriarch of Jerusalem of the Latins, His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the apostolic nuncio, Adolfo Tito Yllana. The visit to the Holy Sepulcher was significant, after which, at the end of the day, the mayor had a long meeting with Brother Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land, who invited him to make this trip. Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land There is a relationship between the Custody and Florence, I would say. Just think La Verna, the stigmata. Here, various initiatives are being held this year for the eighth centenary of this historical fact that for the confirmation of St. Francis to the image of Christ crucified. Few know that La Verna is owned by the City of Florence and it was the City of Florence, in fact, that saved La Verna for the friars and La Verna. Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land Then I would like to mention a special and particular figure of the mayor of Florence, which is the figure of La Pira. La Pira is the one who concretely worked for a vision of world peace. He is a prophet of the 20th century, and I think La Pira is a person we would need. Today even here, even in the Holy Land. A political person who knows how to go beyond divisions, a vision of a politician who knows how to seek the good of people, a vision of a politician who also knows how to work for reconciliation and peace. Read More