Mundelein Seminary hosts photo exhibit of papal visits to Holy Land

Religion often seems to divide us more than bring the peace many leaders preach.

"Building Bridges of Faith," a photography exhibit on display at Mundelein Seminary's McEssy Theological Resource Center aims to change that, organizers say. The 44 historic photographs provide visitors a more intimate view of Blessed Pope Paul VI, Pope St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis on their visits to nearly a dozen sites throughout the Holy Land.

The photos include Pope Paul VI at Mount Tabor in 1964 and Pope Francis at the Western Wall in 2014,

The exhibit, which opened June 22, is significant because the Holy Land is a sacred place not only for Catholics, but also for other Christians and Jews.

Organizers hope it will help build strong relationships between faiths, especially between the Catholic and Jewish community.

"In the aftermath of the Holocaust and World War II, anti-semitism and prejudices were embedded in European culture," said very Reverend Thomas A. Baima, Archdiocesan Vicar for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. "Through all of that, it was a decided choice on the part of the church and Jewish leadership to work together to overcome that. (The exhibit) is just one more example of the intense commitment to rebuild a relationship between sister religions."

Many of the photos show Pope Francis, who Baima said is much different from past popes.

While other popes have had relationships with the Jewish community, Pope Francis has very close relationships with Jewish and Muslim leaders. In one of the largest photos showcased, Pope Francis can be seen embracing two of his closest friends, Jewish leader Rabbi Avraham Skorka and Muslim leader Imam Dr. Omar Ahmed Aboud at the Western Wall.

Baima said these photos have a greater ability to relay emotion and meaning than a news release or written statement.

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so this is 44,000 words on what Francis thinks about the importance of the Holy Land, the relationship with the Jewish people and the human solidarity that's been at the core of what he's trying to do," Baima said.

The free exhibit, co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Consulate General of Israel, was planned to be on display until Sept. 6 but has been extended to mid-September. The exact date is unknown. The center is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is accessed through the Feehan Memorial Library, 700 Principal Ave. For details, email AskALibrarian@usml.edu or call (847) 970-4820.