Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., May 14, 2009 Iyyar 20, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:59 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100

Pope urges 'reconciliation and respect' By Haaretz Correspondents and Agencies , By Yair Ettinger, Lily Galili and Jack Khoury Jews and Christians need a "genuine and lasting reconciliation," Pope Benedict XVI said on the second day of his visit to Israel yesterday. The day included a visit to the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, a reception by chief rabbis Shlomo Amar and Yona Metzger, and a mass at the Gethsemane Church in Jerusalem. Advertisement Following his meeting with the chief rabbis, Benedict spoke of his desire to "deepen mutual understanding and respect" between the Vatican, the Israeli Chief Rabbinate and the Jewish people worldwide, through "fraternal dialogues." He also stressed that the Church remains "irrevocably committed" to the Second Vatican Council's call in 1965 for a "genuine and lasting" Christian-Jewish reconciliation. Metzger responded by thanking the pope for what he termed a "historic agreement" under which the Church will cease missionary work aimed at converting Jews. He and Amar also reiterated a request, first raised at an earlier meeting at the Vatican, that the Church allocate an annual day to denouncing anti-Semitism. Some members of the Chief Rabbinical Council skipped the reception, which Amar said was "their right." At Gethsemane, Benedict described the trials of Jerusalem's dwindling Christian community as a direct continuation of Jesus' sufferings and assured the thousands of believers present that he understood the "frustration, pain and suffering" the Israeli-Arab conflict has caused them. He also urged the relevant authorities to value and support the Christian presence in the city. The crowd included pilgrims from around the world, and even a group of Sudanese refugees, as well as Israeli Arabs and West Bank Palestinians. Prayers were therefore conducted in several languages. During his visit to the Temple Mount, where he became the first pope to enter the Dome of the Rock, Benedict met with the Palestinian Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein. Like every Palestinian official the pope has met, Hussein urged him to do whatever he could to end "the ongoing aggression against our people, our land and our holy sites." The mufti also said the visit constituted recognition by the Vatican that the Temple Mount is a Muslim site. In his address, however, Benedict dodged this issue, merely stressing the need for interfaith dialogue as a means of achieving peace. He then visited the Western Wall, where he delivered a brief address in Latin in which he described Jerusalem as a city holy to three faiths. He also inserted a note in the wall, which, according to a Vatican spokesman, similarly referred to "Jerusalem, City of Peace, spiritual home to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike" and asked God to "send Your peace upon this Holy Land, upon the Middle East, upon the entire human family." Today, Benedict will go to Bethlehem, where he will visit a children's hospital and a refugee camp, meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and say mass at the Church of the Nativity. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Theft in Gaza Elite IDF soldier confesses to stealing credit card from Gaza home during Gaza war. Raising the Bar Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli voted 3rd hottest woman by Maxim magazine.

Read & React Haaretz reporter Amira Hass arrested upon leaving Gaza Responses: 216 Pope: West Bank fence is a symbol of 'stalemate' Responses: 190 UN: Israel gives Lebanon cluster bomb data from 2006 war Responses: 93 Obama declares May Jewish American Heritage Month Responses: 83 More Headlines 22:00 IDF chief apologizes for lashing out at Netanyahu over budget 23:23 Ex-diplomats, U.S. Jews urge Obama to push two-state solution 22:19 Elite IDF soldier confesses to looting Gaza home during war 20:48 Court to state: Explain failure to evacuate 6 West Bank outposts 19:45 Pope: West Bank fence is a symbol of 'stalemate' 17:14 Report: Lebanon charges six in widening Israel spy probe 18:45 INTERACTIVE GUIDE / Pope Benedict XVI in the Holy Land 13:52 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 21:59 Toddler in critical condition after left in hot car for three hours 19:48 Bar Refaeli ranked world's third 'hottest' woman by Maxim magazine 17:32 Australian Holocaust denier sentenced to prison 20:02 Court rejects Katsav request to relocate site of upcoming trial 15:13 Germany finds Demjanjuk 'fit enough' to remain in prison Previous Editions Select Day 13 may 12 may 11 may 10 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may 03 may 01 may 30 apr

Special Offers Advertisement Spring Specials-Dan Hotels Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$ The Meier on Rothschild Tower Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv Dead Sea Skin Care Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off! Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results

Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved