Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has called for Scotland to pray for peace in the Holy Land.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem preached at Mass in St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Sunday.
Guests included First Minister John Swinney; Rev Dr Shaw James Paterson (Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Dr John Armes (Bishop of Edinburgh, Scottish Episcopal Church) and the Rt Rev Kevin Pearson, former Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway (Scottish Episcopalian Church).
The Mass was streamed on YouTube and you can hear what the Cardinal had to say from 28mins 45secs.
Cardinal Pizzaballa's visit has been organised by the Scottish Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and Archbishop Cushley, who is Grand Prior of the Order for Scotland.
The following day he spoke to clergy and religious at The Gillis Centre in Edinburgh,
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa at St Mary's Cathedral
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will preach at Mass in St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh, at 7:30pm on Sunday 1 December.
This is a unique chance to hear from the man who is the shepherd for Catholics in the Holy Land, to pray for peace and to show solidarity for those suffering due to the conflict.
His visit has been organised by the Scottish Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and Archbishop Cushley, who is Grand Prior of the Order for Scotland.
World Day of the Poor
This Sunday marks World Day of the Poor and Archbishop Cushley has nominated theBeit Afram Elderly Home in Palestine as the recipient of the Archdiocese's annual appeal.
Your donation will help ensure that elderly Christians living amidst the violence of war and in need of care are not abandoned and that their costs to live with dignity are covered.
"The elderly are often overlooked and alone, and are surely among the Anawim of the region.
The appeal ties in with the visit to Edinburgh of Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from 1-3 December.
Archbishop Cushley said: "Cardinal Pizzaballa is an Italian Franciscan with a deep knowledge of the communities that make up the peoples of the area and he has many years’ experience there.
"He was chosen by Pope Francis to lead the Latin Catholic Christians in this time of great distress.
"With his blessing, therefore, our collection this year will go to one of the Patriarchate’s charities, the Beit Afram Home for the Elderly.
"The elderly are often overlooked and alone, and are surely among the Anawim of the region, especially in the present circumstances."
Parishes have the option to hold a special collection for the appeal this Sunday. Alternatively you can donate online at bit.ly/dayforpoor2025
Cardinal Pizzaballa will preach at Mass in St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Sunday 1 December at 7:30pm. You can read the Holy Father's message for World Day of the Poor 2024 here.