Pope calls for peace among the faiths in Jerusalem
-17/10/05
As part of his general audience in St Peterís Square, Rome, last week, Pope Benedict XVI declared that Jerusalem should be a place of peace among the three historic faiths that dispute its holy sites ñ Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
ìLet us pray for Jerusalem to be always more a place of communion among religions, a place of peaceî, said the pontiff, commenting on Psalm 121 in the words of St Gregory the Great.
The leader of the worldís 1.5 billion Catholics began by stressing Jerusalemís location as a site of pilgrimage, in contrast to the bitter arguments that have surrounded it throughout history.
The psalm traces an ideal portrayal of a Holy City, the Pope explained. Its depiction of Jerusalemís unifying social and religious functions demonstrated that biblical religion is neither abstract nor private he said, but rather a call for justice and solidarity.
ìCommunion with God is followed necessarily by communion among personsî, Benedict XVI announced, pointing out that Psalm 21ís final invocation ìis all patterned on the Hebrew word ëshalomí,î traditionally considered the root of the name of Jerusalem, interpreted as the ëcity of peaceí.
The Pope has made interreligious conversation, including relations between Christianity and both Islam and Judaism, a key theme for his pontificate.
He has forthrightly condemned the rise of anti-semitism, but has attracted criticism from the Israeli government for his parallel advocacy of Palestinian rights alongside security for the Jewish people.
Pope calls for peace among the faiths in Jerusalem
-17/10/05
As part of his general audience in St Peter’s Square, Rome, last week, Pope Benedict XVI declared that Jerusalem should be a place of peace among the three historic faiths that dispute its holy sites – Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
‘Let us pray for Jerusalem to be always more a place of communion among religions, a place of peace’, said the pontiff, commenting on Psalm 121 in the words of St Gregory the Great.
The leader of the world’s 1.5 billion Catholics began by stressing Jerusalem’s location as a site of pilgrimage, in contrast to the bitter arguments that have surrounded it throughout history.
The psalm traces an ideal portrayal of a Holy City, the Pope explained. Its depiction of Jerusalem’s unifying social and religious functions demonstrated that biblical religion is neither abstract nor private he said, but rather a call for justice and solidarity.
‘Communion with God is followed necessarily by communion among persons’, Benedict XVI announced, pointing out that Psalm 21’s final invocation ‘is all patterned on the Hebrew word ëshalom’,’ traditionally considered the root of the name of Jerusalem, interpreted as the ëcity of peace’.
The Pope has made interreligious conversation, including relations between Christianity and both Islam and Judaism, a key theme for his pontificate.
He has forthrightly condemned the rise of anti-semitism, but has attracted criticism from the Israeli government for his parallel advocacy of Palestinian rights alongside security for the Jewish people.