BETHLEHEM, West Bank — U.S. bishops visiting the Holy Land on a peace pilgrimage emphasized the importance of prayer, with Christians and non-Christians. "Prayer is so powerful, and it can also strengthen our resolve" to accomplish good "on behalf of all parties involved," said Bishop Richard E. Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, one of 18 bishops who made the nine-day pilgrimage for peace in mid-September. The bishops prayers alongside Jews and Muslims "indicate that, as Pope Francis says, we are all (one) human family praying to one God. We, all believers, can find an opportunity to move forward to unity for the benefit of all believers and nonbelievers." The prayers, which were held in some form every day of the pilgrimage, also gave the bishops an opportunity to interact with local Israelis and Palestinians and emphasized that both peoples want the same out of their lives as average Americans, Bishop Pates told Catholic News Service. Bishop Paul J. Bradley of Kalamazoo, Michigan, reflected on the series of joint prayers the bishops held with local Christians and alongside Muslims and Jews. "Praying together has to be the lifeblood of whatever solution is reached," he told Catholic News Service. In Jerusalem, the bishops -- donning the traditional Jewish male head covering, the kippa or yarmulke -- joined a progressive Jewish synagogue for their evening prayers Sept. 12, welcoming in the Sabbath. The following day they joined part of an Armenian Orthodox liturgy ...      Read more