On reading Fr Joe’s Borg article, ‘On exploring the Fifth Gospel’, (The Sunday Times of Malta, March 5) I was really thrilled with such first-hand information concerning the Holy Land.

This is mainly for two reasons.  First of all I lived in the Old City of Jerusalem for three years as a biblical scholar. The seat was the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, the Franciscan Convent of the Flagellation. There I had renowned biblical and archaeological professors, nearly all of whom belonged to the Order of Friars Minor.

The mission of these Friars Minor began in 1342 and continues today, notwithstanding difficult situations. Thanks to them we Catholics today can visit and even celebrate liturgical ceremonies on these holy places.

Secondly I recently arrived from the Holy Land where I accompanied a group of pilgrims. The sacred places, especially Nazareth, Mount Tabor, the Sea of Galilee, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Gethsemane herald the authenticity of the places blessed by the son of God made man.

This particular region, which is the cradle of Christianity, still calls on us Christians to visit the Holy Land at least once in a lifetime.  This encourages Christians who need a word of hope. On the other hand, visiting the Holy Land means living again the Fifth Gospel; hence grasping even more the significance of the Lord’s words and deeds.