Scottish Catholic Observer

The event took place in the compound attached to the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha (above), built on the historic site of Jesus’ miracles of the loaves and fishes.

The church was attacked last Wednesday, the fire causing extensive damage, with graffiti in Hebrew denouncing ‘false idols.’ An adviser to the Catholic Church blamed Jewish extremists for the incident, which has been widely condemned by religious and secular authorities in Israel.

Inside the churchMichel Sabbah, the former Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, auxiliary of the Latin Patriarchate, celebrated a Mass attended by hundreds of young people attended, many carrying Crosses and waving Vatican flags.

Afterwards hundreds blocked the roads outside, chanting about Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Jewish, Muslim and Druze clergymen have also come to the church to express support.