Amman: The pope on Saturday arrived at Mount Nebo, the wind-swept hill overlooking the Jordan valley from where the Bible says Moses saw the Promised Land, on the second day of a weeklong visit to the Middle East that will also take him to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
"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 in mutual respect and cooperation in the service of that peace to which the word of God calls us," said the German-born Benedict.
The pope began his first trip to the Middle East on Friday, expressing his "deep respect" for Islam and hopes that the Catholic Church would be a force for peace in the region as he treaded carefully following past missteps with Muslims and Jews.
The pope was given a red-carpet welcome at the airport by Jordan's King Abdullah II and Queen Rania and praised the moderate Arab country as a leader in efforts to promote peace and dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
An honor guard wearing traditional red- and white-checkered headscarfs played bagpipes and waved Jordanian and Vatican flags.
The trip to the Holy Land is the first for the German-born Benedict, who will travel on Monday for a much-anticipated four days in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Despite the lavish welcome ceremony, the pope has faced sharp criticism in the Middle East - by both Muslims and Jews.
Benedict angered many in the Muslim world three years ago.
Earlier this year, he sparked outrage among Jews when he revoked the excommunication of an ultraconservative bishop who denies the Holocaust.
"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," Benedict said shortly after landing in Jordan, a mostly desert country where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land.
He said Jordan was in the forefront of efforts to promote peace, inter-religious dialogue and to "curb extremism."
Later at a Catholic centre for the handicapped, he said his only agenda was to bring hope and prayers "for the precious gift of unity and peace, most specifically for the Middle East."
Jordan's king praised the pope and said the world must reject "ambitious ideologies of division."
"We welcome your commitment to dispel the misconceptions and divisions that have harmed relations between Christians and Muslims," said Abdullah.
Abdullah Abdul-Qader, a cleric at Amman's oldest mosque, told worshippers during Friday prayers to welcome the pope's visit. "I urge you to show respect for your fellow Christians as they receive their church leader," said Abdul-Qader at the Al-Husseini mosque.
Christians make up 3 percent of Jordan's 5.8 million people.
Benedict's three-day stay in Jordan is his first visit to an Arab country as pope. He is scheduled to meet with Muslim religious leaders at Amman's largest mosque - his second visit to a Muslim place of worship since becoming pope in 2005. He prayed in Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque, a gesture that helped calm the outcry over his remarks.
The pope is also expected to meet Iraqi Christians driven from their homeland by violence. About 40 young Iraqi refugees crowded into a tiny Catholic church in Amman on Friday, nervously practicing their last lesson before Benedict administers their first communion on Sunday.
"I really want to meet the pope," said Cecile Adam, an 11-year-old whose family fled Baghdad. "I think he can do something to help Iraq because Jesus gave him a good position and Jesus wants us to be happy."
Do you keep track of the various peace talks being held around the world? Do you think they make a difference? Why?
Your comments
In the current stressful time the sincere visit of the Pope Benedict XVI to Arab world will definitely boost the mutual love and respect among nations.
Takbir Al Hasan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 09, 2009, 16:17
it was one of the most admiring news release that i have read in any of the newspapers recently. This news give respect to both christians and muslims equally. wonderful write up
Jommy George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 09, 2009, 15:35
The visit of the Pope in the middle east is a testament to the continued efforts being done by leaders such as Pope Benedict XVI, in to achieving the elusive peace particularly here in the this part of the world. We all have to try to emulate these leaders and be channels of peace ourselves, if we do that, peace in the middle east and around the world will no longer be a mere dream but a reality. It's an uphill battle, but we all have to start somewhere at some time.
Nino Gonzales
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: May 09, 2009, 14:22
Give each country a pope so that each Pope would follow the footpath of Pope Benedict and the whole wolrd will be at peace. Thanks for publishing such a beatufiful write on Gulf News, which is un-biased from top to bottom.
Edmond G. Noronha
Mumbai,India
Posted: May 09, 2009, 09:20
Great Jordan, Great King. Viva the kings of peace.
Naeem
Dubai,UAE
Posted: May 09, 2009, 09:14
