JERUSALEM — The Dalai Lama met with religious leaders during his visit to the Holy Land, carrying a message of non-violence, religious tolerance and hope, but wasn’t able to take that message to Palestinians in Bethlehem.

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists urged Jewish and Muslim leaders to help make peace Israelis and Palestinians, even if it means talking to their bitterest enemies.

“Any noble work is bound to have obstacles,” the Dalai Lama told religious leaders in a Feb. 19 meeting. “We need determination to pursue justice and truth.”

The exiled Tibetan leader, whose five-day visit ended on Feb. 20, intended to travel to the West Bank city of Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian Muslim and Christian leaders and to see the Church of the Nativity, but the Palestinian Authority cancelled the visit because of pressure from China, Palestinian sources said.

The Chinese consul in Tel Aviv has sent Israeli officials a letter protesting the Dalai Lama’s visit, comparing the Tibetan to the head of the Hamas, Israel Radio reported. “If China would let the head of Hamas visit, Israel would be angry,” the Chinese said in the letter, according to the radio report...