Pope searches for acceptance from Jews and Muslims in Middle East
Matt Webber
Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: News
Pope Benedict XVI visited Israel's Mount Nebo on Saturday and called for "reconciliation of Christians and Jews."
Benedict also expressed his support for a Palestinian nation independent from Israel to promote peace in the tense region.
Benedict continues his travels to the Middle East to ease tensions between the Catholic church and the region.
"Jerusalem ... is a city which affords Jews, Christians and Muslims both the duty and the privilege to bear witness together to the peaceful coexistence long desired by worshippers of the one God," said Benedict.
Benedict has had strained ties with Jews around the world since he did not excommunicate a bishop who denied the Holocaust ever happened.
Benedict, who was forced to join Hitler's youth corps as a young man, avidly opposes anti-Semitism.
He has gained some standing with Jews around the world for his strong anti-Semitic stance.
"May our encounter today inspire in us a renewed love for the canon of sacred scripture and a desire to overcome all obstacles to the reconciliation of Christians and Jews," said Benedict to his Jewish audience.
Benedict also visited Jordan's King Abdullah II this week to ease tensions between the Catholic church and Muslims.
In Jordan, Benedict told listeners that he respected Islam, and wanted Catholicism to play a part in establishing peace in the region.
Benedict also apologized for offending Muslims in 2006.
Benedict spoke in 2006 about Muhammad and jihad as "evil and inhuman" and sparked outrage in most Muslim countries.
The day after he made the comments, two Christian churches in Israel's West Bank were attacked with firebombs.
Extremist groups publicly claimed the attacks as a response to Benedict.
Since 2006, Benedict has been attempting to strengthen ties between the Muslims and the Roman Catholic Church with mixed success.
He apologized for his comments in 2006 and said that he was quoting a medieval source, and that those were not his own opinions.
Benedict also expressed his support for a Palestinian nation independent from Israel to promote peace in the tense region.
Benedict continues his travels to the Middle East to ease tensions between the Catholic church and the region.
"Jerusalem ... is a city which affords Jews, Christians and Muslims both the duty and the privilege to bear witness together to the peaceful coexistence long desired by worshippers of the one God," said Benedict.
Benedict has had strained ties with Jews around the world since he did not excommunicate a bishop who denied the Holocaust ever happened.
Benedict, who was forced to join Hitler's youth corps as a young man, avidly opposes anti-Semitism.
He has gained some standing with Jews around the world for his strong anti-Semitic stance.
"May our encounter today inspire in us a renewed love for the canon of sacred scripture and a desire to overcome all obstacles to the reconciliation of Christians and Jews," said Benedict to his Jewish audience.
Benedict also visited Jordan's King Abdullah II this week to ease tensions between the Catholic church and Muslims.
In Jordan, Benedict told listeners that he respected Islam, and wanted Catholicism to play a part in establishing peace in the region.
Benedict also apologized for offending Muslims in 2006.
Benedict spoke in 2006 about Muhammad and jihad as "evil and inhuman" and sparked outrage in most Muslim countries.
The day after he made the comments, two Christian churches in Israel's West Bank were attacked with firebombs.
Extremist groups publicly claimed the attacks as a response to Benedict.
Since 2006, Benedict has been attempting to strengthen ties between the Muslims and the Roman Catholic Church with mixed success.
He apologized for his comments in 2006 and said that he was quoting a medieval source, and that those were not his own opinions.
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