Posted on 05/12/2009 5:16:38 PM PDT by americanophile
Jerusalem – Ma’an/Agencies – Benedict XVI became the first pope in history to enter the iconic Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, amid heavy security on Tuesday morning.
Before the pope arrived Palestinian politicians and clerics held a meeting with cardinals who accompanied Benedict on his tour of the Holy Land in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which includes the Dome of the Rock.
The pope was then welcomed at the entrance of the mosque by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammed Hussein, according to AFP.
In his address to the Mufti, Benedict spoke about the unity of the three monotheistic religions, beginning with the Arabic greeting "Asalamu Alaikum!" (Peace be upon you!).
“Undivided love for the One God and charity towards ones neighbor thus become the fulcrum around which all else turns. This is why we work untiringly to safeguard human hearts from hatred, anger or vengeance,” said the pope, according to the text of his prepared remarks.
Israeli authorities imposed intensive restrictions and security measures around the Old City of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque preparing to for the pontiff’s visit to Al-Aqsa and the Wailing Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism.
The pontiff is also scheduled to meet with Israel’s two senior rabbis in the Heichel Shlomo Synagogue in Jerusalem.
Benedict will visit the Church of the Dormition where Jesus is believed to have shared the last supper with his disciplines. Then he will have lunch in the Latin Patriarchate Cathedral with members of the Catholic Churches Council in the Holy Land.
The Holy Father arrived at the Dome of the Rock at 9 a.m. where he was greeted by Muhammad Ahmad Husayn, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, and by the president of the Waqf council (which administers religious properties). Following a brief tour of the area, the Pope was accompanied to the “al-Kubbah al-Nahawiyyah” building, where representatives of the Muslim community were waiting to greet him.
“The Dome of the Rock”, said the Pope in his remarks to them, “draws our hearts and minds to reflect upon the mystery of creation and the faith of Abraham. Here the paths of the world’s three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what they share in common. Each believes in One God, creator and ruler of all. Each recognises Abraham as a forefather. ... Each has gained a large following throughout the centuries and inspired a rich spiritual, intellectual and cultural patrimony.
“In a world sadly torn by divisions”, he added, “this sacred place serves as a stimulus, and also challenges men and women of goodwill to work to overcome misunderstandings and conflicts of the past and to set out on the path of a sincere dialogue aimed at building a world of justice and peace for coming generations.
Dome of the Rock? Is that what they call the ugly growth on the Temple Mount?
“Undivided love for the One God and charity towards ones neighbor”
Ok - He’s giving it His best shot. I’m with Him on that one.
Here the paths of the world’s three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what they share in common. Each believes in One God, creator and ruler of all. Each recognises Abraham as a forefather.
Is he implying that the Muslim god is the Christian God?
My guess is yes. After all, there is only 1 God. Like it or not - this is His Plan.
Our ways are not His. He said it. I don’t know what that means.
It is also believed to be the site where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac.
Your reply is very confusing. There are false gods. God Himself has commanded that we have no other gods before Him.
It is clear, to me at least, that the Muslim god is not the God of the Bible that I worship. The supposed “Jesus” in the Koran, Isa actually, was not crucified and resurrected.
I’m afraid this pope is falling into the same sort of delusion that we heard in Rick Warren’s prayer at Obama’s swearing in ceremony.
That event is no where recorded in the koran (even if one takes it as true).
It’s a recent (as in post 1940) creation to justify attacks on Jews in Israel.
At least I haven’t seen a photo of this Pope kissing the Koran.
...though I should add that your point is taken.
No, I don’t think that’s right. I think that is the same unidentified mountain where Moses received the law.
Don’t go reading some hidden message into what Pope Benedict XVI said. Carefully think through the meaning and definition of each word and its placement in the sentences. There is a meaning and it’s not hidden if you know how to look for it.
He speaks the truth if you hear with ears expecting truth. What he says can befuddle a person who doesn’t have ears to hear.
Pope Benedict XVI is a very well educated man. He’s done research most of his adult life. He is very careful to speak in such a way as he doesn’t have to “explain again what he meant” but a way that also is filled with the truth and which will give the Holy Spirit opportunity to draw the hearer closer to God (the Judeao-Christian God).
In reality, any "false gods" are either figments of someone's imagination, or demonic entities. Isaiah says in several places that there's only one God; in fact, he quotes God saying "are there any others? I know not one".
There are also false descriptions of the true God. That's where Islam fits in. They're right to say there is one true God, they're right to say that he created the universe from nothing and without any obligation on his part, and they're not right about much after that.
Words well worth heeding. Will the beasts in Islam hear him?
**where Jesus is believed to have shared the last supper with his disciplines.**
What goes with these reporters or translators? Should have been disciples and not disciplines! LOL!
You believe the Allah of Islam to be the God of Israel, the God of the Bible, Yahweh, the father of Jesus Christ?
I don't, and I don't see how you do either, if so. Allah is Baal, imho. Not just a false description, a false god. Demonic.
I didn’t.
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