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"Mengintip Perjalanan Paus ke Timur Tengah"
made great progress. Today we have the possibility of the youth, of the future professors of theology, who can study in Jerusalem, in the Hebrew university, and the Jews have academic contact with us: In this way an encounter of the distinct "semantic cosmos" is made possible. We learn mutually and we advance on the path of true dialogue, we learn from one another and I am sure and convinced that we are making progress. And this would also help peace, and what is more, reciprocal love.
Pope Benedict answers reporters' questions during a news conference aboard his flight to Jordan May 8, 2009. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS TRANSPORT)
"We Are Not a Political Power, But Rather a Spiritual Force� PAPAL PRESS CONFERENCE EN ROUTE TO JORDAN ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, MAY 8, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the unofficial transcript of the press conference Benedict XVI gave today aboard the papal plane en route to Amman, Jordan, on the first leg of his Holy Land trip. *** Father Lombardi: Your Holiness, we thank you for granting us an encounter with you at the beginning of a trip that is so important and difficult. Among other things, you have given us as well the opportunity to wish you a good trip and to tell you that we will collaborate in disseminating the message that you wish to give. As is habitual, the questions we now ask are the result of a collection of questions posed by all the colleagues here present. I ask them for logistical reasons, but they are in reality the fruit of team work. Your Holiness, this trip takes place at very delicate moment for the Middle East: There are strong tensions -- during the Gaza crisis it was speculated that you would not make this trip. At the same time, a few days after your trip, the political leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority will meet with [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama. Do you think that you could contribute to the peace process that now seems to be running aground? Benedict XVI: Good morning! Before all else, I would like to thank you all for the work you have done, and I wish you all a good trip, a good pilgrimage, and a good return. Regarding the question, certainly I intend to contribute to peace, but not as an individual, but in the name of the Catholic Church, of the Holy See. We are not a political power, but rather a spiritual force, and this spiritual force is a reality that can contribute to the progress of the peace process. I see [a contribution to be made on] three levels: As believers, we are convinced that prayer is a true force. It opens the world to God: We are convinced that God listens and that he can act in history. I think that if millions
of people -- believers -- would pray, it could really be a force that could influence and contribute to the advancement of peace. Second point: We try to help in the formation of consciences. The conscience is the capacity of mankind to perceive the truth, but particular interests often block this capacity. And it is a big job to liberate from these interests, to open more to the truth, to the true values: It is a duty of the Church to help one to know the true criteria, the true values, and to liberate ourselves from particular interests. And thus, the third point, let us draw reason in as well -- precisely this is it: precisely because we are not a political party, perhaps too we can more easily, with the light of faith, see the true criteria, help bring an understanding of what contributes to peace and speak to reason, to support the truly reasonable positions. And this we have already done, and we want to do so now and in the future. Father Lombardi: Thank you, Your Holiness. Second question: As a theologian, you have reflected in particular on the common roots that unite Christians and Jews. How is it possible that, despite the efforts of dialogue, misunderstandings often occur? How do you see the future of dialogue between the two communities? Benedict XVI: The important thing is that in reality we have the same roots, the same Books of the Old Testament that are -- as much for the Jews as for us -- the Book of Revelation. But naturally, after 2,000 years of living a distinct history, even a separate one, the fact that misunderstandings arise shouldn't be a surprise. Traditions of interpretation, language, and thinking have been formed that are very distinct, we could say a "semantic cosmos" that is very distinct, in such a way that the same word for both traditions signifies different things. And with the use of these words that, in the course of history have taken on different meanings, obviously misunderstandings are born. We should do everything to learn the language of the other, and it seems to me that we have
Father Lombardi: Your Holiness, in this journey you have two essential dimensions of interreligious dialogue, with Islam and with Jews. Is there a common message that has to do with the three religions that make reference to Abraham? Benedict XVI: Certainly there exists a common message, and there will be an occasion to present it and, despite the difference of origins, we have common roots, because, as I have said, Christianity is born of the Old Testament, and the writings of the New Testament wouldn't exist without the Old, because it refers permanently to Scripture, that is to say, to the Old Testament. Islam was also born in an environment where Judaism and various branches of Christianity, Judeo-Christianity, Antiochian-ByzantineChristianity were present, and all these circumstances are reflected in the tradition of the Quran. In this way we have much in common from our origins, in the faith in the one God. For that, it is important on one hand to maintain dialogue with the two parts -- with the Jews and with Islam -- and as well a trilateral dialogue. I myself have cofounded a foundation for the dialogue between the three religions where figures such as Metropolitain Damaskinos and the chief rabbi of France, RenĂŠ-Samuel Sirat, etc. gathered. This foundation also published an edition of the books of the three religions: the Quran, the New Testament and the Old Testament. For this reason the trilateral dialogue should go forward, it is very important for peace, and as well for living one's own religion well. Father Lombardi: A last question. Your Holiness, you have often mentioned the problem of the decline of the Christians in the Middle East, and also in particular in the Holy Land. It is a phenomenon with various reasons of a political, economic and social character. What can be done to help the Christians in the region? What contribution do you hope to give with your trip? Is there hope for these Christians in the future? Do you have a particular message as well for the Christians of Gaza that will come to see you in Bethlehem? Benedict XVI: Certainly there is hope, because now is a moment, as you have said, that is difficult, but also a moment of hope, of a new start, of a new impulse in the path toward peace, and we want to encourage the Christians in the Holy Land, and in all of the Middle East, to stay, to give their contribution to the countries of their origins: They are important components of life in these regions.
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Specifically the Church, beyond words of encouragement, has schools and hospitals. In this sense we have a very concrete presence. Our schools form a generation that will have the possibility to be present in public life. We are creating the Catholic University in Jordan, it seems to me this is a great place where the youth -- both Muslims and Christians -- meet, learn together, where a Christian elite is formed that is prepared specifically to work for peace. But generally, our schools are very important opportunities to open up a future for Christians, and the hospitals show our presence. Furthermore, there are many Christian associations that help Christians in various ways, and with specific help they encourage them to stay. In this way I hope that Christians are able to find the value, the humility, the patience to stay in these countries, to offer their contribution to their nation's future. Father Lombardi: Thank you, Your Holiness, with these answers you have helped to set the tone for our trip from a spiritual point of view, and from a cultural point of view. [Transcription by Vatican Radio, Translation by ZENIT]
A Royal Jordan Air Force jet escorts the airplane carrying Pope Benedict before the airplane landed at Queen Alia International airport in Amman May 8, 2009. Pope Benedict began a delicate trip to the Middle East on Friday by expressing "deep respect" for Islam and calling for a three-way dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews to help peace. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS MILITARY)
“I come to Jordan as a pilgrim� AMMAN, Jordan, MAY 8, 2009(Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the address Benedict XVI gave today upon his arrival to the Queen Alia di Amman airport in Jordan. He was welcomed by the king and queen of Jordan, Abdullah II and Rania. *** Dear Friends, It is with joy that I greet all of you here present, as I begin my first visit to the Middle East since my election to the Apostolic See, and I am pleased to set foot upon the soil of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a land so rich in history, home to so many ancient civilizations, and deeply imbued with religious significance for Jews, Christians and Muslims. I thank His Majesty King Abdullah II for his kind words of welcome, and I offer my particular congratulations in this year that marks the tenth anniversary of his accession to the throne. In greeting His Majesty, I extend heartfelt good wishes to all members of the Royal Family and the Government, and to all the people of the Kingdom. I greet the Bishops here present, especially those with pastoral responsibilities in Jordan. I look forward to celebrating the liturgy at Saint George's Cathedral tomorrow evening and at the International Stadium on Sunday together with you, dear Bishops, and so many of the faithful entrusted to your care. I come to Jordan as a pilgrim, to venerate holy places that have played such an important part in some of the key events of Biblical history. At Mount Nebo, Moses led his people to within sight of the land that would become their home, and here he died and was laid to rest. At Bethany beyond the Jordan, John the Baptist
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preached and bore witness to Jesus, whom he baptized in the waters of the river that gives this land its name. In the coming days I shall visit both these holy places, and I shall have the joy of blessing the foundation stones of churches that are to be built at the traditional site of the Lord's Baptism. The opportunity that Jordan's Catholic community enjoys to build public places of worship is a sign of this country's respect for religion, and on their behalf I want to say how much this openness is appreciated. Religious freedom is, of course, a fundamental human right, and it is my fervent hope and prayer that respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of every man and woman will come to be increasingly affirmed and defended, not only throughout the Middle East, but in every part of the world. My visit to Jordan gives me a welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community, and to pay tribute to the leadership shown by His Majesty the King in promoting a better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam. Now that some years have passed since the publication of the Amman Message and the Amman Interfaith Message, we can say that these worthy initiatives have achieved much good in furthering an alliance of civilizations between the West and the Muslim world, confounding the predictions of those who consider violence and conflict inevitable. Indeed the Kingdom of Jordan has long been at the forefront of initiatives to promote peace in the Middle East and throughout the world, encouraging inter-religious dialogue, supporting efforts to find a just solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, welcoming refugees from neighboring Iraq, and seeking to curb extremism. I cannot let this opportunity pass
without calling to mind the pioneering efforts for peace in the region made by the late King Hussein. How fitting that my meeting tomorrow with Muslim religious leaders, the diplomatic corps and University rectors should take place in the mosque that bears his name. May his commitment to the resolution of the region's conflicts continue to bear fruit in efforts to promote lasting peace and true justice for all who live in the Middle East. Dear Friends, at the Seminar held in Rome last autumn by the Catholic-Muslim Forum, the participants examined the central role played in our respective religious traditions by the commandment of love. I hope very much that this visit, and indeed all the initiatives designed to foster good relations between Christians and Muslims, will help us to grow in love for the Almighty and Merciful God, and in fraternal love for one another. Thank you for your welcome. Thank you for your attention. May God grant Your Majesties happiness and long life! May he bless Jordan with prosperity and peace!
“I come simply with one intention, a hope: to pray for the precious gift of unity and peace” Paus dalam kunjungannya ke Regina Pacis Center of Amman Amman Friday, 8 May 2009 Your Beatitudes, Your Excellencies, Dear Friends, I am very happy to be here with you this afternoon, and to greet each of you and your family members, wherever they may be. I thank His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal for his kind words of welcome and in a special way I wish to acknowledge the presence among us of Bishop Selim Sayegh, whose vision and labours for this Centre, together with those of His Beatitude Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah, are today honored through the blessing of the new extensions which has just taken place. I also wish to greet with great affection the Central Committee members, the Comboni Sisters and the dedicated lay staff, including those who work in the Centre’s many community branches and units. Your reputation for outstanding professional competence, compassionate care and resolute promotion of the rightful place in society of those with special needs is well known here and throughout the Kingdom. To the young people present, I thank you for your moving welcome. It is a great joy for me to be with you. As you know, my visit to the Our Lady of Peace Centre here in Amman is the first stop along my journey of pilgrimage. Like countless pilgrims before me it is now my turn to satisfy that profound wish to touch, to draw solace from and to venerate the places where Jesus lived, the places which were made holy by his presence. Since apostolic times, Jerusalem has been the primary place of pilgrimage for Christians, but earlier still, in the ancient Near East, Semitic peoples built sacred shrines in order to mark and commemorate a divine presence or action. And ordinary people would travel to these centres carrying a portion of the fruits of their land and livestock to offer in homage and thanksgiving. Dear friends, every one of us is a pilgrim. We are all drawn forward, with purpose, along God’s path. Naturally, then, we tend to look back on life – sometimes with regrets or hurts, often with thanksgiving and appreciation – and we also look ahead – sometimes with trepidation or anxiety, but always with expectation and hope, knowing too that there are others who encourage us along the way. I know that the journeys that have led many of
you to the “Regina Pacis” Centre have been marked by suffering or trial. Some of you struggle courageously with disabilities, others of you have endured rejection, and some of you are drawn to this place of peace simply for encouragement and support. Of particular importance, I know, is the Centre’s great success in promoting the rightful place of the disabled in society and in ensuring that suitable training and opportunities are provided to facilitate such integration. For this foresight and determination you all deserve great praise and encouragement! At times it is difficult to find a reason for what appears only as an obstacle to be overcome or even as pain – physical or emotional – to be endured. Yet faith and understanding help us to see a horizon beyond our own selves in order to imagine life as God does. God’s unconditional love, which gives life to every human individual, points to a meaning and purpose for all human life. His is a saving love (cf. Jn 12:32). As Christians profess, it is through the Cross that Jesus in fact draws us into eternal life, and in so doing indicates to us the way ahead – the way of hope which guides every step we take along the way, so that we too become bearers of that hope and charity for others. Friends, unlike the pilgrims of old, I do not come bearing gifts or offerings. I come simply with one intention, a hope: to pray for the precious gift of unity and peace, most specifically for the Middle East. Peace for individuals, for parents and children, for communities, peace for Jerusalem, for the Holy Land, for the region, peace for the entire human family; the lasting peace born of justice, integrity and compassion, the peace that arises from humility, forgiveness and the profound desire to live in harmony as one. Prayer is hope in action. And in fact true reason is contained in prayer: we come into loving contact with the one God, the universal Creator, and in so doing we come to realize the futility of human divisions and prejudices and we sense the wondrous possibilities that open up before us when our hearts are converted to God’s truth, to his design for each of us and our world. Dear young friends, to you in particular I wish to say that standing in your midst I draw strength from God. Your experience of trials, your witness to compassion, and your determination to overcome the obstacles you
encounter, encourage me in the belief that suffering can bring about change for the good. In our own trials, and standing alongside others in their struggles, we glimpse the essence of our humanity, we become, as it were, more human. And we come to learn that, on another plane, even hearts hardened by cynicism or injustice or unwillingness to forgive are never beyond the reach of God, can always be opened to a new way of being, a vision of peace. I exhort you all to pray every day for our world. And today I want to ask you to take up a specific task: please pray for me every day of my pilgrimage; for my own spiritual renewal in the Lord, and for the conversion of hearts to God’s way of forgiveness and solidarity so that my hope – our hope – for unity and peace in the world will bear abundant fruit. May God bless each of you and your families, and the teachers, caregivers, administrators and benefactors of this Centre and may Our Lady, Queen of Peace, protect you and guide you along the pilgrim way of her Son, the Good Shepherd. Thank you for your attention.
© Copyright 2009 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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“Dalam Kunjungan ke Mount Nebo Church”
Pope Benedict XVI greets worshippers upon his arrival at the ancient Mount Nebo Church near Madaba May 9, 2009 . Mount Nebo's first church was constructed in the second half of the 4th century to commemorate the place of Moses' death. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
Pope Benedict XVI waves as he stands near a modern sculpture of Moses' staff at the Memorial of Moses Monastery at Mount Nebo May 9, 2009. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
Pope Benedict XVI prays at the ancient Mount Nebo Church near Madaba city, west of Amman May 9, 2009. Mount Nebo's first church was constructed in the second half of the fourth century to commemorate the place of Moses' death. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS
Pope Benedict XVI and cardinals visit the Memorial of Moses monastery on Mount Nebo May 9, 2009. The monastery overlooks the Jordan valley and the Jericho oasis. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
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"Ideological Manipulation of Religion ... Is the Real Catalyst for Tension and Division� Meeting with Muslim Religious Leader, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Rectors of Universities in Jordan AMMAN, KOMPAS.com — Pada hari kedua kunjungannya di Timur Tengah, Paus Benediktus XVI menekankan perlunya dicapai keharmonisan dan kerukunan hubungan Nasrani dan Muslim. Harapan ini disampaikan Paus dalam sebuah pengantar di Masjid King Hussein Bin Talal, ibu kota Jordania, Amman, Sabtu (9/5).
Pope Benedict XVI addresses Muslim leaders at King Hussein Bin Talal mosque in Amman May 9, 2009. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah
Berikut adalah kutipan pidato Benedict XVI oleh Zenit.org
"Kerap kali manipulasi ideologi agama yang berbuntut pada tujuan politik menjadi katalis sebenarnya dari ketegangan serta perpecahan antaragama," jelas Paus. Paus juga menyuarakan keprihatinan terhadap nasib umat Nasrani di Irak yang tersisihkan karena konflik di negaranya. Paus meminta masyarakat internasional berupaya maksimal untuk menjamin komunitas
Nasrani yang telah tua peradabannya itu tidak terampas hak dasarnya untuk hidup berdampingan secara damai dengan penganut agama lain di Irak. Ini tercatat sebagai kunjungan kepausan kedua yang diadakan di kawasan bersejarah Nasrani di Timur Tengah setelah Paus Yohanes Paulus II mengadakan kunjungan yang sama tahun 2000. Paus Benediktus dijadwalkan bertolak ke Tel Aviv, Senin (11/5), untuk memulai kunjungannya ke wilayah Israel dan Palestina. Dalam rencana kunjungannya ini, Paus dijadwalkan bertemu dengan mufti akbar dan 2 rabi kepala di Jerusalem. Paus akan bertolak kembali ke Roma, Jumat (15/5) pekan depan.
JIM Sumber : AP
catalyst for tension and division, and at times even violence in society? In the face of this situation, where the opponents of religion seek not simply to silence its voice but to replace it with their own, the need for believers to be true to their principles and beliefs is felt all the more keenly. Muslims and Christians, precisely because of the burden of our common history so often marked by misunderstanding, must today strive to be known and recognized as worshippers of God faithful to prayer, eager to uphold and live by the Almighty's decrees, merciful and compassionate, consistent in
I have been able to sample at first hand. Yesterday, I experienced the renowned educational and rehabilitation work of the Our *** Lady of Peace Centre where Christians and Your Royal Highness, Muslims are transforming the lives of entire Your Excellencies, families, by assisting them to ensure that their Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, disabled children take up their rightful place in It is a source of great joy for me to meet with society. Earlier this morning, I blessed the you this morning in this magnificent setting. I foundation stone of Madaba University where wish to thank Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammed Bin young Muslim and Christian adults will side by Talal for his kind words of welcome. Your Royal side receive the benefits of a tertiary Highness's numerous initiatives to promote education, enabling them to contribute justly inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue and to the social and economic development of exchanges are appreciated by the their nation. Of great merit too people of the Hashemite Kingdom are the numerous initiatives of and they are widely respected by inter-religious dialogue supported the international community. I know by the Royal Family and the that these efforts receive the active diplomatic community and support of other members of the sometimes undertaken in Royal Family as well as the nation's conjunction with the Pontifical government, and find ample Council for Inter-religious resonance in the many initiatives of Dialogue. These include the collaboration among Jordanians. For ongoing work of the Royal all this, I wish to express my own Institutes for Inter-faith studies heartfelt admiration. and for Islamic Thought, Places of worship, like this splendid theAmman Message of 2004, the Al-Hussein Bin Talal mosque named Amman Interfaith Message of after the revered late King, stand 2005, and the more recent out like jewels across the earth's Common Word letter which surface. From the ancient to the echoed a theme consonant with modern, the magnificent to the my first encyclical: the humble, they all point to the divine, unbreakable bond between love of to the Transcendent One, to the God and love of neighbour, and Almighty. And through the centuries the fundamental contradiction of these sanctuaries have drawn men resorting to violence or exclusion and women into their sacred space in the name of God (cf. Deus Pope Benedict XVI (C) addresses Muslim leaders at King Hussein Bin Talal mosque in Amman May to pause, to pray, to acknowledge Caritas Est, 16). 9, 2009. Pope Benedict retraced the steps of Moses on Saturday, visiting the mountain where the the presence of the Almighty, and to Bible says the ancient prophet glimpsed the Promised Land before dying, and preached that religion Such initiatives clearly lead to recognize that we are all his helps man search for truth. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS) greater reciprocal knowledge, and creatures. they foster a growing respect both For this reason we cannot fail to be bearing witness to all that is true and good, and for what we hold in common and for what we concerned that today, with increasing ever mindful of the common origin and dignity understand differently. Thus, they should insistency, some maintain that religion fails in of all human persons, who remain at the apex prompt Christians and Muslims to probe even its claim to be, by nature, a builder of unity and of God's creative design for the world and for more deeply the essential relationship between harmony, an expression of communion between history. God and his world so that together we may persons and with God. Indeed some assert that The resolve of Jordanian educators and religious strive to ensure that society resonates in religion is necessarily a cause of division in our and civic leaders to ensure that the public face harmony with the divine order. In this regard, world; and so they argue that the less attention of religion reflects its true nature is the co-operation found here in Jordan sets an given to religion in the public sphere the better. praiseworthy. The example of individuals and encouraging and persuasive example for the Certainly, the contradiction of tensions and communities, together with the provision of region, and indeed the world, of the positive, divisions between the followers of different courses and programmes, manifest the creative contribution which religion can and religious traditions, sadly, cannot be denied. constructive contribution of religion to the must make to civic society. However, is it not also the case that often it is educational, cultural, social and other charitable Distinguished friends, today I wish to refer to a the ideological manipulation of religion, sectors of your civic society. Some of this spirit task which I have addressed on a number of sometimes for political ends, that is the real
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occasions and which I firmly believe Christians and Muslims can embrace, particularly through our respective contributions to learning and scholarship, and public service. That task is the challenge to cultivate for the good, in the context of faith and truth, the vast potential of human reason. Christians in fact describe God, among other ways, as creative Reason, which orders and guides the world. And God endows us with the capacity to participate in his reason and thus to act in accordance with what is good. Muslims worship God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, who has spoken to humanity. And as believers in the one God we know that human reason is itself God's gift and that it soars to its highest plane when suffused with the light of God's truth. In fact, when human reason humbly allows itself to be purified by faith, it is far from weakened; rather, it is strengthened to resist presumption and to reach beyond its own limitations. In this way, human reason is emboldened to pursue its noble purpose of serving mankind, giving expression to our deepest common aspirations and extending, rather than manipulating or confining, public debate. Thus, genuine adherence to religion - far from narrowing our minds - widens the horizon of human understanding. It protects civil society from the excesses of the unbridled ego which tend to absolutize the finite and eclipse the infinite; it ensures that freedom is exercised hand in hand with truth, and it adorns culture with insights concerning all that is true, good and beautiful. This understanding of reason, which continually draws the human mind beyond itself in the quest for the Absolute, poses a challenge; it contains a sense of both hope and caution. Together, Christians and Muslims are impelled to seek all that is just and right. We are bound to step beyond our particular interests and to encourage others, civil servants and leaders in
particular, to do likewise in order to embrace the profound satisfaction of serving the common good, even at personal cost. And we are reminded that because it is our common human dignity which gives rise to universal human rights, they hold equally for every man and woman, irrespective of his or her religious, social or ethnic group. In this regard, we must note that the right of religious freedom extends beyond the question of worship and includes the right - especially of minorities - to fair access to the employment market and other spheres of civic life. Before I leave you this morning I would like to acknowledge in a special way the presence among us of His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Baghdad, whom I greet most warmly. His presence brings to mind the people of neighbouring Iraq many of whom have found welcome refuge here in Jordan. The international community's efforts to promote peace and reconciliation, together with those of the local leaders, must continue in order to bear fruit in the lives of Iraqis. I wish to express my appreciation for all those who are assisting in the endeavors to deepen trust and to rebuild the institutions and infrastructure essential to the well-being of that society. And once again, I urge diplomats and the international community they represent together with local political and religious leaders to do everything possible to ensure the ancient Christian community of that noble land its fundamental right to peaceful coexistence with their fellow citizens. Distinguished friends, I trust that the sentiments I have expressed today will leave us with renewed hope for the future. Our love and duty before the Almighty is expressed not only in our worship but also in our love and concern for children and young people - your families and for all Jordanians. It is for them that you labor and it is they who motivate you to place
the good of every human person at the heart of institutions, laws and the workings of society. May reason, ennobled and humbled by the grandeur of God's truth, continue to shape the life and institutions of this nation, in order that families may flourish and that all may live in peace, contributing to and drawing upon the culture that unifies this great Kingdom!
Pope Benedict XVI, wearing an Arab keffiyah headscarf presented to him, simles at Lady of Peace Church in Amman May 8, 2009. Photo taken May 8, 2009. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (JORDAN POLITICS RELIGION)
Pope Protest Shooing Religion From Public Sphere Urges Muslims, Christians to Fidelity as Believers Face Being Silenced
Pope Benedict XVI speaks to a Muslim audience during his visit to the King Hussein Bin Talal mosque in Amman May 9, 2009. Pope Benedict retraced the steps of Moses on Saturday, visiting the mountain where the Bible says the ancient prophet glimpsed the Promised Land before dying, and preached that religion helps man search for truth. REUTERS/ Majed Jaber (JORDAN)
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AMMAN, Jordan, MAY 9, 2009 (Zenit.org).Religion can be corrupted, says Benedict XVI, but it is actually a manipulation of religion, sometimes for political reasons, that leads to tension and division. The Pope spoke of true religiosity today, the first full day of his weeklong pilgrimage to the Holy Land, during his stops at both the University of Madaba and the King Hussein bin Talal Mosque. The Holy Father arrived in the Middle East on Friday and will visit not only Jordan, but also Israel and the Palestinian Territories. This morning he blessed the cornerstone of the University of Madaba, being constructed by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. There, he acknowledged, "Religion, of course, like science and technology, philosophy and all expressions of our search for truth, can be corrupted. Religion is disfigured when pressed into the service of ignorance or prejudice, contempt, violence and abuse." He said that when his happens, it is not only a perversion of religion, but a perversion of human freedom itself, a "narrowing and blindness of the mind." But, the Pontiff affirmed, "such an outcome is not inevitable. Indeed, when we promote
education, we proclaim our confidence in the gift of freedom. The human heart can be hardened by the limits of its environment, by interests and passions. But every person is also called to wisdom and integrity, to the basic and all-important choice of good over evil, truth over dishonesty, and can be assisted in this task." Faithful worshippers Later, at Jordan's state mosque -- the second mosque he's visited as Pope -- Benedict XVI again defended true religion. He said that it is a cause for concern that there is growing insistence that religion fails to be a "builder of unity and harmony, an expression of communion between persons and with God." "Indeed," the Pope lamented, "some assert that religion is necessarily a cause of division in our world; and so they argue that the less attention given to religion in the public sphere the better." But, while acknowledging "the contradiction of tensions and divisions between the followers of different religious traditions," the Pontiff affirmed: "is it not also the case that often it is the ideological manipulation of religion, sometimes for political ends, that is the real catalyst for tension and division, and at times even violence in society?"
"In the face of this situation, where the opponents of religion seek not simply to silence its voice but to replace it with their own, the need for believers to be true to their principles and beliefs is felt all the more keenly," he said. "Muslims and Christians, precisely because of the burden of our common history so often marked by misunderstanding, must today strive to be known and recognized as worshippers of God faithful to prayer, eager to uphold and live by the Almighty's decrees, merciful and compassionate, consistent in bearing witness to all that is true and good, and ever mindful of the common origin and dignity of all human persons, who remain at the apex of God's creative design for the world and for history." Muslim thanks Prince Ghazi Bin Talal thanked the Holy Father for stopping at the mosque: "This gesture is all the more remarkable, given the fact that this
visit to Jordan by Your Holiness is primarily a spiritual pilgrimage to the Christian Holy Land, and in particular to the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ. [...] And yet Your Holiness has made time, in your intense and tiring schedule, tiring for a man of any age, for this visit to the King Hussein mosque, in order to honor Muslims." The prince was the organizer of the "Common Word" message, sent by 138 Muslim scholars in response to turmoil over a misunderstanding of a 2006 speech the Holy Father gave in Regensburg. In the face of misunderstandings, the Jordanian official asserted that Muslims have the task of explaining Mohammed's example, "above all, with deeds of virtue, charity, and piety and goodwill." And he offered Jordan as an example of a place where people of different religions coexist in
peace. He particularly highlighted the role of Christians in Jordan, saying they "have always not only defended Jordan but have also tirelessly and patriotically helped to build Jordan, playing leading roles in the fields of education, health, commerce, tourism, agriculture, science, culture, and many other fields. All this is to say, then, that whilst Your Holiness may believe them to be your fellow Christians, we know them to be our fellow Jordanians. And they are as much a part of this country as the land itself." "We hope that this unique Jordanian spirit of interfaith harmony, benevolence and mutual respect, will serve as an example to the whole world," the prince added, lamenting places where "Muslim minorities are hard-pressed by Christian majorities, as well as [...] where the opposite is the case." --- --- —
“King Hussein Bin Talal Mosque”
Pope Benedict XVI, left, flanked by Prince Ghazi Bin Talal both wear shoes as they tour inside the King Hussein Bin Talal mosque in Amman, Jordan, Saturday, May 9, 2009. A special mat was laid to mark the route of the papal tour of the mosque, enabling the Pope to wear his shoes during his visit. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Pope Benedict XVI (C), accompanied by Jordan's Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, leaves King Hussein Bin Talal mosque in Amman May 9, 2009. Pope Benedict retraced the steps of Moses on Saturday, visiting the mountain where the Bible says the ancient prophet glimpsed the Promised Land before dying, and preached that religion helps man search for truth. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
Jordan's Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal speaks to Pope Benedict XVI (L) during his visit to the King Hussein Bin Talal mosque in Amman May 9, 2009. Pope Benedict retraced the steps of Moses on Saturday, visiting the mountain where the Bible says the ancient prophet glimpsed the Promised Land before dying, and preached that religion helps man search for truth. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
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Holy Land Need Courage, Says Pope Urges Them to Lay Down Lives in Service of Others
Pope Benedict XVI waves to worshippers during Sunday Mass at a stadium in Amman May 10, 2009. Pope Benedict arrived in Amman on Friday on a tour of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories that will test his diplomatic skills. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
An Iraqi girl waves a national flag as she attends a Sunday Mass led by Pope Benedict XVI in Amman May 10, 2009. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
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AMMAN, Jordan, MAY 10, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Mass that Benedict XVI celebrated today in the Amman International Stadium turned out to be a festival of faith for Jordanian Catholicism: Some 30,000 attended the event out of an estimated 109,000 Catholics in the nation. The Pope exhorted the Middle Eastern Christians to stay in the Holy Land and give testimony to Jesus in this region so plagued by conflict. The Jordanian government decreed that today would be a vacation day for Christians -- normally Sunday is a workday in Jordan -- and stores and businesses followed suit. "Fidelity to your Christian roots, fidelity to the Church's mission in the Holy Land, demands of each of you a particular kind of courage: the courage of conviction, born of personal faith, not mere social convention or family tradition; the courage to engage in dialogue and to work side by side with other Christians in the service of the Gospel and solidarity with the poor, the displaced, and the victims of profound human tragedies; the courage to build new bridges to enable a fruitful encounter of people of different religions and cultures, and thus to enrich the fabric of society," the Holy Father acknowledged. And, he said, fidelity for Middle Eastern Christians also means "bearing witness to the love which inspires us to 'lay down' our lives in the service of others, and thus to counter ways of thinking which justify 'taking' innocent lives." The Mass was the largest celebration planned for Benedict XVI's days in Jordan, where he arrived last Friday. A large image of Christ, the
Good Shepherd, presided over the site, since the Eastern Church is celebrating the 4th Week of Easter and Good Shepherd Sunday. (They marked Easter one week later than in the West). An image of Mary and John the Baptist, patron of Jordan, also adorned the sanctuary. Vocations crisis Benedict XVI was welcomed by one of Jordan's native sons, Archbishop Fouad Twal, patriarch of Jerusalem. The prelate offered the Pope the "Arabic and Jordan hospitality," but jokingly warned him that the Church there is passing through a "vocations crisis." There are too many seminarians for our resources, the archbishop said, and we are having to find other places to house them. Archbishop Twal also spoke of the challenge this local Church is facing as it takes in refugees from Iraq. More than 1 million Iraqis have fled to neighboring Jordan, an estimated 40,000 Christians among them. The Church and the local Caritas organizations are supporting the refugees not only spiritually but also materially. Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, patriarch of Baghdad, was among those present. The Eucharistic celebration culminated with 40 Jordanian children receiving their first Communion. On Monday, the Pope will leave Jordan, receiving an official good-bye from King Abdullah at the airport, in a gesture of warmth that breaks protocol. Shortly thereafter, the Pontiff will be welcomed in Israel by President Shimon Peres and other representatives of the Israeli government.
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives for a Sunday Mass at a stadium in Amman May 10, 2009. At left stands a portrait of King Abdullah of Jordan. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
A man waves a Jordanian flag as Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a Sunday Mass at the International stadium in Amman May 10, 2009. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
King Abdullah Gives Surprise Papal Tour Joins Pope on the Banks of the Jordan
Pope Benedict XVI (3rd L), accompained by Jordan's King Abdullah (R), Jordan's Queen Rania (2nd L), Jordan's Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal (2nd R) and Rustom Mkhjian, director of the Baptize site (3rd R) visits Bethany Beyond the Jordan, on the east bank of the Jordan River May 10, 2009. Pope Benedict on Sunday visited the site believed to be where Jesus was baptised as he wraps up his visit to Jordan and prepares to leave for Israel to start the most delicate part of his first Middle East trip. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS ROYALS)
BETHANY, Jordan, MAY 10, 2009 (Zenit.org).Benedict XVI was unexpectedly joined today along the banks of the Jordan River by Jordan's King Abdullah II. The Pope, on day two of his weeklong pilgrimage to the Holy Land, visited the site of Christ's baptism at Bethany beyond the Jordan. Though not part of the original program, he was accompanied in a private motorcade of elongated golf carts by King Abdullah and Queen Rania. The king, seated beside the Pontiff, explained to his guest the archeological excavations being carried out in the area. The exploration is being overseen by a Jordanian commission. Archeologists have found more than 20 churches, grottos and baptismal fonts in the area, showing that the site was a popular pilgrimage spot in early Christianity.
Nowadays it is muchneglected, only open a few times a year. But the area is scheduled to undergo considerable growth: King Abdullah is planning to build five Christian churches near the historical site some refer to as the birth of Christianity. And one of the expected consequences of the Holy Father's visit to the location is that pilgrims will rediscover its significance. After visiting the baptismal site, the small party continued on to a public venue where the Pope was greeted by several thousand faithful. The Pontiff blessed what will be the cornerstones of the two Catholic churches to be built next to the historic river, one Latin and one Greek-Melkite. "It is with great spiritual joy that I come to bless the foundation stones of the two Catholic Churches to be built beside the river Jordan, a place marked by many memorable events in biblical history," the Holy Father explained.
"The foundation stone of a church is a symbol of Christ," he continued. "The Church rests on Christ, is sustained by him and cannot be separated from him. He is the one foundation of every Christian community, the living stone, rejected by the builders but chosen and precious in God's sight as a cornerstone. With him, we too are living stones built into a spiritual house, a dwelling place for God." "Let us rejoice," said the Pope, "in the knowledge that the two buildings, one Latin, the other Greek-Melkite, will serve to build up, each according to the traditions of its own community, the one family of God." Prelates in attendance included Gregorios III Laham, patriarch of Antioch for the Greek Melkite Church, Archbishop Fouad Twal, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, retired Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Archbishop Joseph Jules Zerey and Bishop Salim Sayegh. --- --- —
Accompanied by King Abdullah II of Jordan, Queen Rania, unseen and Prince Ghazi bin Mohammed, left, Pope Benedict XVI, center arrives at the Bethany beyond the Jordan river, the site of Christ's baptism, west of Amman, Jordan Sunday, May 10, 2009. Pope Benedict XVI praised Sunday the courage of Middle East Christians who cling to their faith despite war and adversity, addressing a crowd of 20,000 who filled a sports stadium where he celebrated the first open-air Mass of his Holy Land pilgrimage. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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Vatican Spokesman; Papal Trip Already Met 2 Goals Father Lombardi Notes Success With Muslims, Christians AMMAN, Jordan, MAY 10, 2009 (Zenit.org).Benedict XVI has reached the goals that were set for the first leg of his weeklong pilgrimage to the Holy Land, says a Vatican spokesman. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, affirmed that the results of Part 1 of the Pope's pilgrimage are thus far "very positive." The Holy Father arrived in Jordan on Friday and is set to leave for Israel on Monday. During his time in Jordan, he has visited Mount Nebo and Bethany beyond the Jordan River. He also stopped at Jordan's state mosque and addressed Muslim leaders there. "The Pope has been able to celebrate all the meetings scheduled in the program with great serenity, receiving a very warm and friendly welcome, both on the part of the state authorities and the royal family, and on the part of the Muslim world and the Catholic community," Father Lombardi said. "It seems to me very wise to have begun this trip through a gate of peace, a gate of serenity," he reflected. "In this moment, in the setting of the Middle East, Jordan is a country that is essentially serene, and therefore, the fact of starting the voyage through the Middle East at this point, I think has made the beginning of the trip be particularly positive." Step forward with Muslims Father Lombardi highlighted Saturday's stop at the King Hussein bin Talal Mosque. "It seems that it's becoming more and more normal for a pope, with a friendly attitude, to enter a Muslim place of prayer," he said. "This is a sign of the advance in the positive relationship between Christians and Muslims in these years." Reflecting on the 2006 turmoil over Benedict XVI's speech in Regensburg, Father Lombardi said he believes the crisis in Christian-Muslim
relations that sprung from that misunderstanding has been resolved for some time now. "Now then, as we know, when a misunderstanding arises about complex issues, a whole series of steps and time is needed to completely heal all the consequences," he acknowledged. "And therefore, it is not surprising if references to this difficult moment keep coming up." "But we already have more than two years worth of positive experiences that began in that moment," the spokesman affirmed. He noted that Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammed Bin Talal, a counselor to King Abdullah II, did mention Regensburg in his welcoming speech at the mosque, "but he clearly said that it is a chapter definitively left behind, and afterward he greeted the Pope as the 'Successor of Peter,' something which on the lips of a representative of the Muslim world, is a very significant greeting," the Jesuit contended. Boost for Catholic minority Father Lombardi said the other objective the Pope had for the Jordan leg of the journey was to show support for the small Christian community, which makes up only about 3% of Jordan's more than 6 million people. And only about half the Christians are Catholics. "Another beautiful image" Benedict XVI will carry in his heart, the spokesman stated, "is that of the warmth of the Christian community that welcomes the Pope." Father Lombardi offered the example of those who greeted the Holy Father on Saturday for a celebration of Vespers at the Greek-Melkite Cathedral of St. George. He said the "enthusiasm of the welcome was impressive." He continued: "[The Catholic Church here] is a
lively Church and has been able to demonstrate this to the Pope not only with the welcome, the cordiality and the intensity of the moments of prayer, but also with other important circumstances. "In the Regina Pacis Center for disabled youth, he has inaugurated a new section; in Madaba, he blessed the cornerstone of a university -an initiative of huge importance not only for Jordan but for the whole Middle East, where the development of the contribution that the Church gives to culture will be highly significant. "Then the placement of the cornerstones of two churches -- a Latin one and a GreekMelkite one -- in the zone of the baptism of Christ shows growth in the places where the Church is. "Certainly the fact that the Pope's visit has been linked to these beautiful circumstances says that it is a Church that feels alive and looks to the future." Looking ahead Upon arriving to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Father Lombardi said the Pope is hoping that this visit "can be truly a message of peace, reconciliation, and encouragement for the Christian communities that find themselves in difficulties -- a message of hope, of trust, of love to give an effective contribution to improve the situation in the whole region.�
Day 1 of Pope’s Pilgrimage seen as success Vatican Aide Reflects on Pontiff's Idea of Peace for Region By Mercedes de la Torre AMMAN, Jordan, MAY 8, 2009 (Zenit.org).Benedict XVI is in the Holy Land as a selfdefined "pilgrim of peace," but he hopes to bring the region more than an absence of conflict, says a Vatican aide following the weeklong pilgrimage. Father Caesar Atuire, the delegate administrator of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, spoke with ZENIT about the Pope's trip, which began today in Jordan. The Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi is the Vatican institution whose mission is to evangelize through pastoral tourism and the ministry of pilgrimage. This trip is important, Father Atuire said, "because he is arriving in a moment in which this land is trying to find a way of living in peace among the various peoples and the Pope truly arrives as a pilgrim of peace." "He arrives to call all those peoples who believe in the one God to this innate vocation that God has wanted to give to man, so we can seek peace in God and in respect for each other," the priest said. "The prophet Isaiah presents the Messiah as 'the Prince of Peace,' he who is going to bring peace to the earth. And this is what we truly
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want: peace. The peace we seek is the biblical 'Shalom,' -- it is not just a question of leaving aside conflict in the sense of wars. We are seeking a deeper peace, meaning man living in harmony with God, with himself, and with others. This is a gift of God and it must be asked for in prayer. We can't obtain it only through political negotiations," he added. Father Atuire affirmed: "This trip has begun very well with a lot of serenity -- because as always, before all of the Pope's trips, there are a lot of worries, there is a lot of conflict that some people want to stir up. But what we have seen is that the Pope has arrived truly as a messenger of peace. "He has been welcomed by the people, by the Muslims, by the king who is Muslim, by his family. And he has also wanted to begin his visit visiting the poor, society's most marginalized, and I think this has given a very good start to this trip.�
Pope Visits Mideast as Brother of Muslims, Jews Interview With Vicar for Israel's Hebrew-speaking Catholics By Karna Swanson Palestinian refugees from the 1948 War). The risks are clear -- the Pope seeks to come as a pilgrim in prayer for peace and unity. Many are waiting to hear from him support for their cause. The Pope seeks to come as a pastor. Many are going to scrutinize every word and every movement in order to derive a political conclusion.
JERUSALEM, MAY 7, 2009 (Zenit.org).- One of the most important challenges for Benedict XVI as he visits the Holy Land this week will be to present the face of Christ to Jews and Muslims, according to Jesuit Father David Neuhaus. Father Neuhaus, the patriarchal vicar for Hebrew-speaking Catholics in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, spoke with ZENIT ahead of the Pope's May 8-15 journey to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian National Territories. In this interview he talks about how Israel is preparing for the visit, the major challenges facing the Holy Father during his journey, and the historic importance of the event. Q: How is Israel preparing for the visit of Benedict XVI? In particular, how are the Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel preparing? Father Neuhaus: Israel, as a country, is preparing to greet a very prominent guest. The Vatican flag is flying in the streets through which the Holy Father will pass. Security and other measures are already palpable in the places where he will visit. The press is full of stories about Pope Benedict, about the schedule of the visit, about aspects of the life of the Church, and perhaps most significantly about the local Church, which generally receives little attention in a country in which Christians are just 2% or 3% percent of the population. However, the Hebrew-speaking Catholic community, like the Arabic-speaking Catholic community, is preparing, first and foremost, to greet our pastor, with joy and enthusiasm. We are preparing ourselves to listen and watch, to learn and to open our hearts. We are full of hope that the Pope will encourage us and help as understand ever more profoundly our vocation as a "little rest" in this land that is too often characterized by conflict. We are very proud that Pope Benedict has insisted that he is coming first and foremost to visit us and to be with us. Q: The Holy Father has repeatedly asked for prayers for this pilgrimage and his spokesman called it a "decidedly courageous" trip. Do you think there are particular risks that come with a trip to the Holy Land right now? Father Neuhaus: It is indeed a courageous trip because there are many risks. We live in the midst of a political-national conflict. All sides are eager to exploit the Holy Father's visit to further their own interests. He will be encountering not only the religious reality of life in the Holy Land, but he will also be visiting the official representatives of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He will be encountering the two national narratives at their most painful -- when he visits Yad Vashem (the memorial to the victims of the Shoah) and Aida Camp (a camp of
The visit will have to be choreographed with absolute skill so that the Holy Father's intention might be preserved in a context in which many will be trying to pull him into the quagmire of conflict and narrow interests. The Pope will need the courage of the prophets of old in their confrontation with the powers that be in order to say his word of truth and accomplish his act of visiting this land as a pilgrim of peace, unity and love. May the prayers of Pope John Paul II strengthen Pope Benedict as he walks the path of his predecessor. May this pilgrimage build on and further the wonderful pilgrimage of his predecessor. Q: Cardinal Leonardo Sandri revealed this week that this trip to the Holy Land is one that the Pope has wanted to make since the beginning of his pontificate. Why is this trip so important? Father Neuhaus: The trip is important on many different levels. First, the Holy Father is coming to the land that is the arena of our history of salvation -- the land of the patriarchs, prophets and sages of the Old Testament, the land of Jesus Our Lord and the disciples and apostles of the New Testament. He comes to remind us of the importance of these holy places for our identity as Christians because they serve as permanent memorials to God's faithfulness to us. Second, he comes to encourage and support the mother Church of Jerusalem. In these weeks, from Easter to Pentecost, we are reading Acts of the Apostles and there Jerusalem and her Church are a constant point of reference. We must strengthen the Church of Jerusalem as a constant reference to our origins, and because testimony to Jesus is essential in the land he lived in. Third, the Pope comes into the heart of a troubled area to show the Church's face as a promoter of justice, of peace and most importantly, of pardon and compassion. We need this visit especially to promote pardon, so absent from our usual discourse about the conflict here. Fourth, the Pope comes to promote dialogue with both Jews and Muslims. Q: This trip will be an opportunity for encounter between Catholics, Muslims and Jews. What can the Pope do to avoid misunderstandings with the Jewish and Muslim religions as happened earlier this year with the lifting of the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson, and with the Regensburg speech at the beginning of his pontificate that offended the Muslims? Father Neuhaus: The meetings with Jewish and Muslim authorities are an important element of the trip. Likewise, the Holy Father will be visiting the important sites of the two religious traditions -- both the Haram al-Sharif (where he will visit the Dome of the Rock) and the Western Wall. All of this will be preceded by an interfaith gathering in which the Pope will address hundreds of Jews, Christians and Muslims working for interreligious dialogue, education, social welfare, human rights, democracy, tolerance -- those working as peacemakers and promoters of justice and
reconciliation. Both Jews and Muslims are expecting words and acts of reconciliation in the light of earlier tensions. The important moments for this will be not only in the visits to the religious authorities and the sites holy to the Jewish and Muslim traditions, but also at the sites where the Pope will encounter the pain of the peoples of the region. These encounters are themselves the occasion for the Holy Father to show our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters the face of a brother as he speaks words of wisdom and love and sets in motion acts of respect and compassion. Q: The Pope said he is going as a "Pilgrim of Peace" to the Holy Land. How can the head of the Catholic Church be a force of peace in this region? Father Neuhaus: This is an enormous challenge in a region that too often seems unwilling to embark on the search for peace. The Pope comes not as a political leader, but as a spiritual and religious leader on a pilgrimage. This means he has the freedom of the Spirit and he can attempt to transform the imagination of those in the area who do not see beyond conflict and confrontation. It is unlikely that the Holy Father has a new political formula to propose to the leaders here, but I have no doubt that he can underline elements that are essential to peacemaking that are rarely mentioned in the political discourse that dominates our region. Pardon and compassion are two of these elements that the Pope, in his encounter with Israelis and Palestinians, can certainly underline. The Pope comes not as a king, but as a prophet and a sage. This leaves him free to a certain extent from the imperatives of power and political interests and he can address our sad situation with words of truth and love. If he simply opens our imagination to see what we cannot see -- that the other is our brother rather than our enemy -- he will have helped us to exorcise the demons of fear, suspicion and hatred that have colonized our minds and hearts. Q: For those who are following the Pope's trip from abroad, what are some of the main elements of the cultural context that should be noted? Father Neuhaus: Perhaps in all simplicity, those who are following must realize that the Pope comes to countries that are not Catholic, but rather those defined by Jewish tradition, history and identity (Israel) and Muslim Arab tradition, history and identity (Jordan and the Palestinian Authority). For most people the Pope is not a beloved pastor, but a foreign dignitary who represents also much of the pain and trouble that have characterized relations between Jews and Catholics on the one hand, and Muslims and Catholics on the other. We must pray, all of us, that this visit be an important moment of transformation in which Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Muslims, can see the face of Jesus Christ, humble, compassionate and the servant of his brothers and sisters, in the face of Pope Benedict XVI. This is ultimately the most important challenge of this trip. --- --- --On the Net: Hebrew-speaking Vicariate in Israel: www.catholic.co.il
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Pope Benedict reviews the honor guard as he arrives at the Royal Palace in Amman May 8, 2009. Pope Benedict began a delicate trip to the Middle East on Friday by expressing "deep respect" for Islam and calling for a three-way dialogue of Christians, Muslims and Jews to help peace. REUTERS/Tony Gentile (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the crowds upon his arrival to hold a mass at the "Regina Pacis Center" (Lady of Peace Church) in Amman. The pope underlined his "deep respect" for Islam on Friday in Jordan, on his first trip as pontiff to an Arab state, and stressed that religious freedom is a fundamental human right. (AFP/Khalil Mazraawi)
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful as he arrives for Sunday Mass in Amman May 10, 2009. Pope Benedict arrived in Amman on Friday on a tour of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories that will test his diplomatic skills. REUTERS/Majed Jaber (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during Sunday Mass in Amman May 10, 2009. Pope Benedict arrived in Amman on Friday on a tour of Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories that will test his diplomatic skills. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (JORDAN RELIGION POLITICS)
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Pope Benedict XVI waves his hand to King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania, unseen, before boarding the plane on his way to Israel at the end of his visit to Jordan, in Amman, Jordan, Monday, May 11, 2009. Pope Benedict XVI has called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, immediately plunging into Middle East politics upon his arrival in Israel. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
WILL BE CONTINUED