This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6212402.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Church leaders to visit Bethlehem Church leaders to visit Bethlehem
(about 8 hours later)
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales are to lead a pre-Christmas pilgrimage to Bethlehem.The Archbishop of Canterbury and the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales are to lead a pre-Christmas pilgrimage to Bethlehem.
Rowan Williams and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor say the trip is in solidarity with Christians because of Israeli security measures there.Rowan Williams and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor say the trip is in solidarity with Christians because of Israeli security measures there.
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor has said the town is "blocked in" by the Israeli security wall and checkpoints.Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor has said the town is "blocked in" by the Israeli security wall and checkpoints.
And Dr Williams has warned of an exodus of Christians from Bethlehem. Dr Williams recently had minor surgery to remove a cyst, it has emerged.
Both have urged other Christians to visit Bethlehem. The procedure - which involved the cyst being removed from the archbishop's left arm - has forced him to rearrange his engagements for the remainder of this week.
In his Christmas address last year, Cardinal O'Connor, declared that the Christ child would be weeping for the town of his birth as it was "steadily strangled". 'Steadily strangled'
Both Dr Williams and Cardinal O'Connor have urged other Christians to visit Bethlehem.
In his Christmas address last year, Cardinal O'Connor declared that the Christ child would be weeping for the town of his birth as it was "steadily strangled".
Dr Williams has warned of an exodus of Christians from Bethlehem.
The two archbishops will travel to Bethlehem with Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian, of the Armenian Church of Great Britain, and Rev David Coffey, of the Free Churches.The two archbishops will travel to Bethlehem with Bishop Nathan Hovhannisian, of the Armenian Church of Great Britain, and Rev David Coffey, of the Free Churches.
The group will arrive in the Holy Land and travel to Jerusalem on 20 December, returning to the UK on 23 December.The group will arrive in the Holy Land and travel to Jerusalem on 20 December, returning to the UK on 23 December.
Following the removal of the small cyst, Dr Williams is expected to resume his duties at the weekend.
A statement issued by Lambeth Palace said: "The procedure was straightforward and he is making a very good recovery."