Cardinal Dolan to visit Israel and Palestine as chair of Catholic Near East Welfare Association

NEW YORK — Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, will visit Israel and Palestine from Friday, April 12 through Thursday, April 18, in his role as chair of Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA).  While there, the cardinal will meet with local Christian, Jewish and Islamic religious leaders, visit various social service and humanitarian activities, as well as mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine. 

CNEWA was founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926 as an instrument of love and a sign of hope for those in need scattered throughout the historic but troubled lands of the ancient Eastern churches – the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe. The Pontifical Mission was founded by Pope Pius XII in 1949 and serves as CNEWA’s operating agency in the Middle East. The Archbishop of New York serves as ex-officio chair of the board of trustees. Msgr. Peter Vaccari, president of CNEWA and of the Pontifical Mission, will accompany Cardinal Dolan on his pastoral visit. 

CNEWA and the Pontifical Mission work entirely through the local church, offering aid to all in need, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. 

While in the region, Cardinal Dolan will, as he has done on past visits, meet with various Israeli and Palestinian Christian, Jewish and Muslim representatives. Among the social service activities on his tentative itinerary are the Paul VI Ephpheta Institute for the Hearing Impaired, the Aida Refugee Camp, and the Home Notre Dame des Douleurs, a home for the elderly. He hopes to meet with families of hostages, enjoy a Sabbath meal with Jewish friends, and visit with Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups. A more complete itinerary will be shared when finalized.