Popes visit to Holy Land: Sign of continued desire for peace and unity!
The Holy See announced today that the Pope is going to Jerusalem in May. That announcement is especially good news for the diplomatic relationship between the Vatican and Israel. In recent months there have been multiple points of contention between the Holy See and the Israeli government, specifically over the lifting of the excommunication of a schismatic bishop that denied the Holocaust and the ongoing disputes related to the papacy of Pius XII during World War II.
This trip as well might present difficulties. Just this morning the Rabbi of the Western Wall, Rabbi Shmed Rabinovitch suggested the Pope should not wear the traditional pectoral cross while visiting the surviving wall of the Great Temple. The Rabbi indicated that the symbol of the cross was an insulting symbol to the many Jewish people that have suffered persecution at the hands of Catholics over the centuries.
There is more at stake here than the simple matter of a pectoral cross during Pope Benedict’s visit. It appears the Rabbi of the Western Wall is forgetting the theological heritage Catholics share with the People of the Old Testament. While the Pope traditionally wears a pectoral cross, the symbol in no way diminishes the real appreciation the Catholic Church continues to develop for our cousins in monotheism…the Jewish people. The protest raised by the rabbi undermines the purpose of the apostolic visit, which is to publically exhibit the close theological and political unity between the Catholic Church and the Government of Israel. Additionally, the intrinsically sacred nature of the entire Holy Land makes it a place of pilgrimage for Catholics, Jews and Islamic faiths equally. The important treasured nature of Israel’s sacred shrines should be a model not only for diplomatic balancing, but also religious tolerance between three great monotheistic religions that share heritages at the sites in Jerusalem.
Pope Benedict XVI during his pontificate continues to make remarkable progress in relationship to Israeli-Catholic dialogue. Repeatedly opponents to Pope Benedict’s continued desire to deepen Catholic relationships with the Jews make reference to already well discussed and deeply studied topics. Really, it is time to move forward in our theological appreciations of each others religions and stop debating the already exhausted previous debates. From a Catholic historical perspective, there are many aspects of our 2000 years relationship with the Jewish people that should have been handled differently. The important thing is that we are now understanding our symbiotic relationship of monotheistic faith between our two religions. Any dispute over papal attire and sartorial accessories just continues to feed sentiments of anti-Semitic and anti-Catholic inflammatory rhetoric.
Pope John-Paul II visited Israel in 2000. His trip was considered as a remarkable triumph of theological understanding as well as diplomatic craftsmanship. Pope Benedict XVI’s visit will result in the same accomplishments, only if both Jewish and Catholic observers set appropriate expectations. The issue of a papal pectoral cross was not part of the John-Paul journey to the holiest sites of Jewish and Christian antiquity. A pectoral cross should not make any difference on this journey either. The Pope wants to visit Israel as not only the Head of the Vatican State, the Bishop of Rome but as a faithful and devout Catholic to venerate a sacred place where salvation history unfolded for Catholics and Jews.
The overwhelming message of the Benedictine pontificate has been the continued desire for unity among all peoples of the world, despite our social, political and theological differences. Benedict’s quest for global harmony and unity is another positive action that the Church under his leadership hopes to continue well into the 21st century with all faithful denominations including our cousins in faith, the Jewish people.
Hugh J.McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on uniquely Catholic topics and issues. He attended Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, where he studied both philosophy and theology. He writes frequently at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://nothing-left-unsaid.blogspot.com . Hugh writes about his Irish Catholic upbringing and educational experiences at http://graysferrygrapevine.blogspot.com . He has contributed works to Catholic News Agency, Catholic Online, The Irish Catholic, Dublin, the British Broadcasting Company, London and the Philadelphia Bulletin, Pewsitter.com, Blogger News Network & The Catholic Business Journal.
3 users commented in " Popes visit to Israel…theological unity with plurality! "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThere is only one solution to the Arab-Isreali conflict, One State with Muslims, Jews,Christains living togather with Jarusalm as capital,Who ever wins rules, No Army NO Guns!!
SUBJECT: JERUSALEM
1. **ISRAEL** BECAME A STATE IN 1312 B.C., TWO MILLENNIA BEFORE ISLAM;
Wrong. A princedom called Israel came to existence 500 years later, and it had no relation to the ‘Jews’ who appeared a millennium later. ‘Jews’ are not even mentioned in the Torah of Moses, only in the very late books of Esther and Ezra. Islam, or belief in One God, was established by Abraham/Ibrahim a millennium earlier, while Muhammad just returned to its roots.
2. ARAB REFUGEES FROM **ISRAEL** BEGAN CALLING THEMSELVES
“PALESTINIANS” IN 1967, TWO DECADES AFTER (MODERN) ISRAELI STATEHOOD;
Wrong. The native dwellers of Palestine were called “Palestinians” by Herodotes in 5th century BC, 2500 years before (modern) Israeli statehood; but Herodotes never heard of Jews, though he walked across the whole land. Jews appeared three hundred years later.
3. AFTER CONQUERING THE LAND IN 1272 B.C., JEWS RULED IT FOR A THOUSAND YEARS AND MAINTAINED A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE THERE FOR 3,300 YEARS;
Wrong. The Jews conquered the land in 168 BC and ruled it for 100 years until Palestine was liberated by the Roman general Pompey the Great for they killed and pillaged the natives overmuch. Another 100 years later, there was not a single Jew in Jerusalem.
4. THE ONLY ARAB RULE FOLLOWING CONQUEST IN 633 B.C. LASTED JUST 22 YEARS;
Wrong. King Herod (1st century BC) was as full-blooded Arab as Omar ibn Hattab (7th century AD) and as the Mayor of united Jerusalem, Ragheb Nashashibi in 20th century.
5. FOR OVER 3,300 YEARS, **JERUSALEM** WAS THE JEWISH CAPITAL. IT WAS NEVER THE CAPITAL OF ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM ENTITY. EVEN UNDER JORDANIAN RULE,
Wrong. Jerusalem was the capital of Jews for 100 years (2nd – 1st century BC), and it was the capital of Christian Kingdom for 100 years, and a capital of a Muslim and Christian province for 1900 years, while it was the holy place of pilgrimage for all its history.
(EAST) **JERUSALEM** WAS NOT MADE THE CAPITAL, AND NO ARAB LEADER CAME TO VISIT IT;
Jerusalem was the centre of pilgrimage, and Arab, Muslim and Christian leaders came to venerate there, until being forbidden to enter by the Jews, while [first PM] David Ben Gurion went to New York before he came to visit Jerusalem, and [first President] Haim Weitzman hated the city.
6. **JERUSALEM** IS MENTIONED OVER 700 TIMES IN THE BIBLE, BUT NOT ONCE IS IT MENTIONED IN THE QUR’AN;
Wrong. Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Torah of Moses even once, while there are thousands of Muslim stories about Jerusalem, and Jerusalem is the place of Crucifixion and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
7. KING DAVID FOUNDED **JERUSALEM**; MOHAMMED NEVER SET FOOT IN IT;
Wrong. Jerusalem was founded six hundred years before King David, who was a Muslim prophet and ancestor of Christ anyway, and the Prophet Muhammad prayed there in his praying place, while one of the most important events in life of Muhammad (al-Miraj) took place in Jerusalem as described in Koran. Jewish connection to King David? They bombed this hotel!
8. JEWS PRAY FACING **JERUSALEM**; MUSLIMS FACE **MECCA**. IF THEY ARE BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES, MUSLIMS PRAY FACING **MECCA**, WITH THEIR BACKS TO **JERUSALEM**;
Christians and Muslims venerate God in Jerusalem, Jews crucified Him there.
9. IN 1948, ARAB LEADERS URGED THEIR PEOPLE TO LEAVE, PROMISING TO CLEANSE THE LAND OF JEWISH PRESENCE. 68% OF THEM FLED WITHOUT EVER SETTING EYES ON AN ISRAELI SOLDIER;
In 2006, Jewish leaders did not ask their people to leave, but 70% of them ran away from the North in fear of Hizbollah missiles without ever setting eyes on a Lebanese guerrilla.
10. VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE JEWISH POPULATION OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAD TO FLEE AS THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE AND POGROMS;
Virtually entire Christian and Muslim population of Jerusalem was forcefully expelled from the Jewish occupation zone in 1948, while the Jews of Iraq, Morocco and Egypt enjoyed peace and prestige.
11. SOME 630,000 ARABS LEFT ISRAEL IN 1948, WHILE CLOSE TO A MILLION JEWS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES;
Arab Jews were seduced or forced by Zionists to leave their homes, while the Palestinians were expelled by the same Zionists.
12. IN SPITE OF THE VAST TERRITORIES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, ARAB REFUGEES WERE DELIBERATELY PREVENTED FROM ASSIMILATING INTO THEIR HOST COUNTRIES. OF 100 MILLION REFUGEES FOLLOWING WORLD WAR 2, THEY ARE THE ONLY GROUP TO HAVE NEVER INTEGRATED WITH THEIR CORELIGIONISTS. MOST OF THE JEWISH REFUGEES FROM **EUROPE** AND **ARAB LANDS** WERE SETTLED IN **ISRAEL**, A COUNTRY NO LARGER THAN NEW **JERSEY**;
The Palestinians are forever faithful to Palestine, while Jews do not mind to change countries and allegiances.
13. THERE ARE 22 MUSLIM COUNTRIES, NOT COUNTING **PALESTINE**. THERE IS ONLY ONE JEWISH STATE. ARABS STARTED ALL FIVE WARS AGAINST **ISRAEL**, AND LOST EVERY ONE OF THEM;
Jews live in 160 states, and sit in parliaments of 10 countries; there are or were Jewish premier ministers in France, Russia, Austria etc. In the Jewish state, there are no goy ministers, and goyim – whether Christian or Muslim have no full rights, even if they were born there.
Arabs started only one war, in 1973, and were victorious then, and in 2006 as well. The Jews won only one war, in 1967, because they perfidiously attacked without declaring the war.
14. FATAH AND HAMAS CONSTITUTIONS STILL CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF **ISRAEL**. **ISRAEL** CEDED MOST OF THE WEST BANK AND ALL OF **GAZA** TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AND EVEN PROVIDED IT WITH ARMS;
“Destruction of Israel” means elimination of its racist character, like destruction of the Aryan Third Reich eliminated its racism, but preserved Germany. “Destruction” of Dixie, or of Rhodesia was also blessing for all concerned.
Israel ceded nothing to the PNA but the right to clean streets. Israeli army and police may, and does enter anyplace in the West Bank and Gaza which remain surrounded by the Jewish forces.
15. DURING THE JORDANIAN OCCUPATION, JEWISH HOLY SITES WERE VANDALIZED AND WERE OFF LIMITS TO JEWS. UNDER ISRAELI RULE, ALL MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN HOLY SITES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FAITHS;
The Jews do not allow any Muslim below age of 45 to pray in the Mosque of al Aqsa, they do not allow Christians of Bethlehem to celebrate Easter in Jerusalem and do not allow Christians of Jerusalem to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem.
16. OUT OF 175 UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS UP TO 1990, 97 WERE AGAINST **ISRAEL**; OUT OF 690 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS, 429 WERE AGAINST **ISRAEL**;
And Israel accepted and fulfilled only one of them which equated Zionism with racism.
18. THE U.N. WAS SILENT WHEN THE JORDANIANS DESTROYED 58 SYNAGOGUES IN THE **OLD CITY** OF **JERUSALEM**. IT REMAINED SILENT WHILE **JORDAN** SYSTEMATICALLY DESECRATED THE ANCIENT JEWISH CEMETERY ON THE **MOUNT OF OLIVES**, AND IT REMAINED SILENT WHEN **JORDAN** ENFORCED APARTHEID LAWS PREVENTING JEWS FROM ACCESSING THE **TEMPLE MOUNT** AND WESTERN WALL.
The Jews destroyed one thousand mosques and churches in 1948; they besieged the Church of Nativity in 2002, they. Jews also desecrated hundreds of Christian and Muslim cemeteries, turned the mosque of Caesarea into a bar, and demolished the 5th century Church of St Barbara. Jews also enforced apartheid laws preventing goyim from coming back to the places they were born.
THESE ARE TRYING TIMES. WE MUST ASK OURSELVES WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, AND WHAT WE WILL TELL OUR GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT OUR ACTIONS DURING THIS CRISIS, WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
START NOW! SEND THIS MESSAGE TO 20 FRIENDS, AND ASK EACH OF THEM TO SEND IT TO 20 MORE. JEWISH OR NOT, IT DOES NOT MATTER.
That’s right! Do it!
TRUTH AND PEACE ARE VALUES COMMON TO ALL OF US. EVERYONE MUST KNOW!
Let them!
I am a Jewish resident of Haifa and active in interfaith activities. My personal belief is that justice based on tales from ancient writings are suspect. However, The United Nations did agree to divide what was called Palestine under British rule into two states. The nations of The Arab League invaded Israel in 1948, which resulted in refuges on both sides. More than one million Arab citizens still live in Israel. They were not driven from their homes! Israelis are not racists in most cases and most Muslims are not friends of Bin Laden. Jesus was killed by the Romans, if he existed. Throwing around slogans and stereotypes does not bring peace and justice. I, like most Israelis support a two state settlement, based on realities of today, not myths or grudges from five thousand or even fifty years ago.
Earl Shugerman
well i love to be there but i live in bamenda a city in cameroon and i do not have money to get there but i wishes all of you well have a nice time and be happy for GOD goodbye by julius fongeh
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