Earlier this month, Stearns had traveled to Israel with 46 pastors from the United States, whose return flight departed before Israel’s preemptive attack on Iran.
Many had great hopes as Pope Leo XIV seemed ready to renew Catholicism's commitment to interreligious solidarity, but when missiles began raining down on Tel Aviv, those hopes were quickly tested.
St Catherine's is a sprawling complex, and according to tradition, it was built around a burning bush where God was said to have spoken to Moses as described in the Book of Exodus.
"Leo is taking his time," Rev. Mark Francis, told Reuters. "While he is going to continue in the path indicated by Pope Francis, his disposition is very different."