Pope Visits Holy Sites of Judaism, Islam

Jewish new year coincides with Muslim month of Ramadan in city special to both

(NEWSER) - This year’s intersection of Jewish new-year holidays and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan—a rarity due to Islam’s changing calendar—is felt particularly keenly in Jerusalem, a sacred city for both religions, Ethan Bronner notes in the New York Times. Night has become “a kind of monotheistic traffic jam,” with devout Jews praying at the Western Wall while Muslims break their fast. More»

'I wouldn't go into a church wearing Jewish symbols,' Rabinovitch says

(NEWSER) - Pope Benedict XVI plans to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem next month as a show of mutual understanding and sensitivity between Catholicism and Judaism—but a request from a prominent rabbi almost ensures he’ll offend someone, Time reports. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch said the pontiff should remove the cross he wears constantly, “out of respect” for the Jews and their sacred site. More»

Benedict makes pilgrimage to Jerusalem church

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI assured his followers in the Holy Land that peace is possible, as he ended his Mideast visit today as a pilgrim to the site of Jesus' crucifixion. A traditional escort of men in black robes and red fezzes accompanied the pontiff as he entered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, rhythmically banging staffs on the ground to announce his approach. Benedict knelt down and kissed the rectangular stone on which Jesus' body is believed to have been placed after the crucifixion. More»

40,000 join Benedict in Nazareth, Israel's largest Arab city

(AP) - Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass today with 40,000 adoring followers in Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, the AP reports, where he urged Christian and Muslim residents to overcome recent strife and "reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice." On the fourth day of his Holy Land pilgrimage, the pontiff traveled to Israel's largest Arab city, where the government tore down an unauthorized mosque near the Basilica of the Annunciation. More»

(NEWSER) - Israeli-Vatican tensions are expected to heat up yet again during Pope Benedict's visit today as the pontiff presses Catholic claims over a room in Jerusalem believed to be the site of Christ's last supper. The room is in a building that served for centuries as a mosque and is now marked with Arabic inscriptions. Israel is reluctant to hand the site over without significant backing from the Vatican to help develop and manage it as a massive Christian tourist site. More»