A group of 71 Italian pilgrims, led by the Archbishop of Bologna, Giacoma Cardinal Lercaro, left here today for Tel Aviv on the start of a nine-day visit. They will follow the itinerary used by Pope Paul VI during his visit to Israel and Jordan last January.
Prior to their departure from the Rome airport, the pilgrims were greeted by Israel’s Ambassador to Italy, Maurice Fisher, Cardinal Lercaro is considered one of the leaders of Italy’s progressive clergy, and is known to have hidden Jews from the Nazis during the war.
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