Hanukkah candle lit at Vatican for first time

December 23, 1997
Web posted at: 7:20 p.m. EST (0020 GMT)

VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- A Hanukkah candle was lit at the Vatican Tuesday for the first time in history, an event Israeli ambassador Aharon Lopez called "unique." The candle, which was lit by Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy of Australia on behalf of Pope John Paul II, was next to an olive tree that commemorates diplomatic ties between Israel and the Holy See. Lopez said the ceremony marked "an important chapter in the historic process of reconciliation between Jews and the Catholic Church."

Watch the lighting
	868K/22 sec./160x120 QuickTime movie

Special section:

• Hanukkah: December 23 - 31 1997

Related site:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• The Holy See - official site of the Vatican

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

---

 

---

Sound off on our message boards You said it...

© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.