One thousand Catholic pilgrims from Italy are in Israel this week to participate in the JPII games. The games, named for Pope John Paul II, are being held for the seventh time this year.
The games aim to bring together members of different races and nationalities. This years athletes hail from Italy, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority. A press release expressed hope that the games would “continue the legacy of... promoting pilgrimage to the Holy Land, peace, brotherhood and inter-faith cooperation.”
One planned event is the Bethlehem-Jerusalem run, to be held on Sunday, which will be open to Israeli citizens for the first time this year. Israeli citizens are normally not allowed to enter Bethlehem due to security concerns.
Other activities include a cycling event that will begin in Nazareth and pass through Christian sites in the Galilee, a women's volleyball game, and a swimming competition.
As the games conclude, religious and political figures from Italy, Israel, and the PA will be asked to sign a “card of values” that promotes peaceful relations through sports and tourism.
The JPII games are organized by the official Vatican pilgrimage organization Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, in cooperation with the Italian Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Tourism, the Civil Administration, the Jerusalem Municipality, Jerusalem Police, the Jewish National Fund and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.