Posted on 08/02/2008 2:44:44 PM PDT by kellynla
Damascus, Aug. 1, 2008 (CWNews.com) - A top Islamic leader has issued an invitation for Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) to visit Syria during the current Pauline year, the Italian Apcom news agency reports.
Sheik Ahmad Badereddine Hassoun, the grand mufti of Syria, told reporters that he hoped the Pope would visit "in the footsteps of St. Paul." He volunteered to travel to Rome to help the Pontiff prepare for such a trip.
The Vatican acknowledged the invitation without making any commitment. Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, observed that the invitation was a sign of warm relations between the Holy See and Syria's Islamic leadership.
The Syrian grand mufti has not always been so cordial in his attitude toward Pope Benedict. Following the Pope's Regensburg lecture, Hassoun said that the text revealed the Pope's "ugliness and extremism."
More recently, however, Hassoun joined the other Islamic officials in the "Common Word" initiative designed to encourage talks between Catholic and Islamic leaders. The first session of those talks is now scheduled to take place in Rome in November.
ping
Common Word Initiative.....Submit to Islam.
“I hope he doesn’t go. It’s not safe.”
Syria is probably the safest place in the ME for the pope, or most any other Christian, to go. Were I living in the Middle East, other than perhaps, and only perhaps, Lebanon, Syria is where I would want to be.
“I hope he doesn’t go. It’s not safe.”
When you have God; you have nothing to fear.
That said, I’m sure all precautions for his safety will be made.
And more will be accomplished by his going to Syria than not.
I highly doubt he will go. It’s not safe, and his presence will encite the Muslims and yield ugly fallout. And there’s no way this sheikh is interested in peace terms with Christians, it’s just taqiyyah image polishing for Syria to try to win US support of their “defection” from Iran.
Syria, however, has one of the highest percentages of Christians of any Middle Eastern country—10% (Not much, but by Middle Eastern standards it’s pretty good). Some still speak Aramaic, the language used by Jesus. Christians were there long before Mo-ham-head was even born.
Don’t be silly. “safe?”
Who and what does the Pope have to fear?
Steak dinner says he’ll go.
And he’ll show the muzzies what a big “set” he has. BIG SMILE
FYI, Lebanon is close to 40% Christian. Also, Egypt is about 10% Christian, like Syria.
“I know.....but I’m thinking about the prophecy that he is our next-to-last pope.”
soooooooooooo...and if that “prophecy” be accurate, do you honestly think for a minute that whether he goes to Syria or Selma; it will make a bit of difference.
but I’m sure you get my point...
The Vatican Information Service has reported that Pope Benedict XVI will grant the faithful Pleanary Indulgence on the occasion of the two-thousand anniversary of the birth of St. Paul during the Pauline Year. It’s not the same road to Damascus, Holy Father. Please do not go to Syria.
Now that is impressive!
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