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Pope Pushing for Church in Saudi Arabia

Posted Mar 20, 08 10:37 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Pope Benedict XVI is lobbying Saudi Arabia to let a Catholic church on its soil, Time reports. The Vatican confirms that it's discussing forging diplomatic relations with the Saudis, but a house of worship would be a major coup in a country where all religions besides Sunni Islam are banned.

A small, unadorned chapel recently went up in neighboring Qatar. But Saudi Arabia, home to the Islamic holy land as well as 800,000 Christians (many of them migrant workers), is far more draconian. Benedict has been a stalwart advocate of religious freedom in the Middle East, but famously riled up Muslims in 2006 in a speech about Islam and violence.

Source Time

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Pope Benedict XVI meets with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the Vatican, Nov. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo/Chris Helgren, pool)
Pope Benedict XVI holds his pastoral staff at the end of a Chrism Mass inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, March 20, 2008.   (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, left, and Pope Benedict XVI, are photographed during a meeting at the Vatican, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo)
Pope Benedict XVI welcomes Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the Vatican, Nov. 6, 2007. Pope Benedict XVI has been pressing Abdullah to allow freedom of worship for Christians.   (AP Photo/Chris Helgren, Pool)
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, at center, and Pope Benedict XVI, at right, exchange gifts during their meeting at the Vatican, Nov. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo)
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, at center in white, and Pope Benedict XVI, at right in red, exchange gifts during their meeting at the Vatican, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo)
Pope Benedict XVI meets with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the Vatican, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo/Chris Helgren, pool)
In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Benedict XVI meets with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the Vatican, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007.   (AP Photo)
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Islam • Saudi Arabia • Pope Benedict XVI • Catholicism • King Abdullah • Qatar • interfaith dialogue


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