Israelis Protest at the Church of the Apostles

100 Israelis Protest Vatican Role at Holy Site

JERUSALEM May 12, 2014 (AP)

About 100 Israelis protested Monday against the government at a Jerusalem religious site they fear will be handed over to Vatican control when the pope visits in a few weeks.

Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the demonstration ended peacefully.

The site is believed by Christians to be the place of the Last Supper, where Jesus dined with his disciples before he was arrested by the Romans.

The room is above the traditional site of the tomb of the biblical Jewish King David.

Currently prayers are held in the Holy Supper room twice a year.

The Vatican has petitioned Israel for more Christian access to the place for years. Officials on both sides say they are close to an agreement to allow daily prayers there.

What we are talking about here is the Cenacle, otherwise known as the Church of the Apostles. It was in use as a church right up until the fall of Jerusalem. It was a borrowed room when Jesus used it to celebrate the Passover with his disciples. Jesus did not think it necessary to own the room and I see no reason why we should either. It is entirely fitting and appropriate that it remains a borrowed room but it really would be nice to celebrate mass there on a regular basis. I somehow think that the spectacle of people fighting over the room would be a disappointment to our Lord.