JERUSALEM - Dozens of Palestinians, Israelis and Italian pilgrims took part Thursday in a "peace marathon" from Jerusalem to Bethlehem dedicated to the memory of the late Pope John Paul II.
The race started at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, the reputed birthplace of Jesus Christ, with the finishing line at the Franciscan Ad Cenaculum in Jerusalem's walled Old City.
Halfway through the eight-mile (five kilometre) run, Palestinian George Michel handed over the marathon torch to Israeli Faloro Eyal.
The Vatican's ambassador to Israel, Monsignor Pietro Sambi, said that the runners had followed the message of the late pontiff who appealed for peace between Palestinians and Israelis as well as for Christians to visit the Holy Land.
The "small but meaningful gesture" was an "example to the entire Middle East", said Sambi.
04/14/2005 15:53 GMT