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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Vatican Stews Over Israel's Last Supper Fight

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(Newser) – Israeli-Vatican tensions are expected to heat up yet again during Pope Benedict's visit today as the pontiff presses Catholic claims over a room in Jerusalem believed to be the site of Christ's last supper. The room is in a building that served for centuries as a mosque and is now marked with Arabic inscriptions. Israel is reluctant to hand the site over without significant backing from the Vatican to help develop and manage it as a massive Christian tourist site.

"If we were certain that this great gift to the Christian world would bring us millions of Christian tourists we might think about it. But since that isn't going to happen, we have no reason to give away presents," said Israel's tourist minister. Control of the site is critical to the Vatican. "Our home was there and I want to be at home," said Jerusalem's papal nuncio.

Christian pilgrims walk in front of the Cenacle, traditionally believed to be the site of the Last Supper, in the Tomb of David complex near Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
Christian pilgrims walk in front of the Cenacle, traditionally believed to be the site of the Last Supper, in the Tomb of David complex near Mount Zion in Jerusalem.   (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)
A Christian pilgrim prays near the Cenacle, traditionally believed to be the site of the Last Supper, in the Tomb of David complex near Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
A Christian pilgrim prays near the Cenacle, traditionally believed to be the site of the Last Supper, in the Tomb of David complex near Mount Zion in Jerusalem.   (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)
A scene from Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper.
A scene from Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Last Supper.
Actors play out the last supper during the Stations of the Cross outside St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, last year in front of a recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper.
Actors play out the last supper during the Stations of the Cross outside St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, last year in front of a recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper.   (AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill)
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10 comments
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anchower
May 11, 09 3:38 AM CDT
I guess Israelis may be a bit less selfless and generous than I had been led to believe. Reply
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Derni
May 11, 09 8:41 AM CDT
In 300 years-if the human race is still around-maybe some other religious cult will be making the same claim about the same real estate. Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
May 11, 09 9:01 AM CDT
"a room in Jerusalem believed to be the site of Christ's last supper." It's apparently enough to believe this is the room... why worry about proving it. Reply
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ethical_person
May 11, 09 10:55 AM CDT
It's a room -- that's all it is. Grow up, for St. Peter's sake! If that's how we have to go about finding Christ and oneness with God, then there is something wrong with us. And why should the Israelis care . . . they have been hunted and murdered in the name of Christ for centuries -- they are supposed to be "selfless and generous" because . . . .??? Reply
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HUPOSTASIS
May 11, 09 2:45 PM CDT
Were they NOT celebrating Passover?? And now "Christian" churches say Hocus Pocus over a cup of wine and some crackers (ohh yeah they stopped because of swine flu) and actually perform a pagan ritual in the process. - http://graceandtruth.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=123&Itemid=38 Reply
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