Mundelein Seminary photo exhibit explores papal visits to Holy Land

"Building Bridges of Faith," a photo exhibition of papal visits to the Holy Land, is on display at the McEssy Theological Resource Center on the campus of Mundelein Seminary, from now through Sept. 6.

The public is invited to visit the photo exhibition of papal visits to Israel from 1964-2014 on both floors of the McEssy Theological Resource Center, which is accessed through the Feehan Memorial Library, 700 Principal Ave., on campus. The library is generally open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The "Building Bridges of Faith" exhibition features papal visits to nearly a dozen Holy Land sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is recognized as the site of the crucifixion and tomb of Jesus of Nazareth; Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust; the Cenacle on Mt. Zion, traditionally held to be the site of the Last Supper; and the Western Wall.

The goal of the photo exhibit is to engage with the broader community and illustrate the positive interreligious dialogue between Catholics and Jews. The 44 historic images depict stirring scenes as well as quiet and intimate moments during visits to the Holy Land by some of the most well-traveled popes in history: Blessed Pope Paul VI, Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

The exhibit was opened with a panel discussion on June 22, and included comments from the Honorable Roey Gilad, Consul General of Israel to the Midwest; the very Reverend John F. Kartje, rector and president, University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary; Rabbi Michael Balinsky, executive vice president, Chicago Board of Rabbis; and the very Reverend Thomas A. Baima, vicar for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Archdiocese of Chicago.

Consul General Gilad said that "Though the Catholic Church and the Jewish State had a complicated relationship for decades, the past 50 years have witnessed a dramatic turnaround resulting in the Vatican's recognition of Israel and the establishment of diplomatic relations."

Father Baima noted that the relationship between the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Jewish Community through the Chicago Board of Rabbis go back to the civil rights movement. Chicago has been a privileged place for dialogue because of the large Jewish community and its commitment to intergroup relations.

The University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago with a national and international reach. A graduate school of theology, it has an enrollment of 337 degree students, of which 225 are seminarians preparing for service as diocesan priests in 39 dioceses. Additionally, its institutes of diaconal studies, lay formation and the Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral prepare more than 300 women and men for these roles of service. The University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary's ongoing formation program offered courses to 1,980 participants this past year.