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Pope begins Mid-East pilgrimage Pope begins Mid-East pilgrimage
(about 2 hours later)
Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Jordan on Friday, beginning what he says is a "pilgrimage" to the Middle East. Pope Benedict XVI has left Rome for a visit to the Middle East - his first tour of the holy places of Christendom since his election four years ago.
The head of the Roman Catholic church will hold talks with Jordan's King Abdullah in Amman before visiting places linked to the life of Christ. He begins his week-long trip in Jordan, then goes to Israel and the West Bank.
He is seeking to strengthen ties with Jewish and Muslim leaders after offending believers of both religions for different reasons in recent years. The visit is aimed at encouraging the minority Christian community in the Middle East, and creating a better dialogue with Muslims and Jews.
The week-long tour is his first visit to the Middle East as pontiff. Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence.
The eight-day tour - in which the Pope describes himself as a "pilgrim of peace" - is his first visit to the Middle East as pontiff.
Healing riftsHealing rifts
The head of the Roman Catholic Church is seeking to strengthen ties with Jewish and Muslim leaders after offending believers of both religions in the past three years.
David Willey, BBC News, Amman:
Pope Benedict would like to go down in history as a peacemaker.
But his chances of success are seen as slim by most political observers in the Middle East.
He has also offended, unintentionally he claims, believers belonging to both the Muslim and Jewish religions for differing reasons during the past three years.
In 2006, Benedict infuriated Muslims with a speech linking the Prophet Muhammad with violence.
He later said he was "deeply sorry" over the reaction to the remarks and that the passage he quoted did not reflect his own opinion.
But in Jordan, the opposition Islamic Action Front party said Benedict was not welcome unless he offered an outright apology.
"The government should push for an apology from the Pope, who should apologise for angering 1.5 billion Muslims in the world," IAF chief Zaki Bani Rsheid wrote in a letter to the Jordanian prime minister last month.
"Otherwise, he is not welcome in Jordan and his visit is rejected."
More recently, the German-born Pope offended Jewish leaders by lifting the ex-communication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.
Many in Israel have also been angered by the proposed sainthood of Pope Pius XII, reviled by some Jews for his passive stance during the Holocaust.
Political peacemaker
During the visit - which includes a stop in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank - Pope Benedict is expected to deliver a plea for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and for the establishment of a Palestinian homeland.During the visit - which includes a stop in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank - Pope Benedict is expected to deliver a plea for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and for the establishment of a Palestinian homeland.
The Pope should apologise for angering 1.5 billion Muslims, otherwise he is not welcome Zaki Bani Rsheid Islamic Action Front chief Pope in the Holy Land: The issues Profile: Pope Benedict XVI
But his main aim is to give hope and encouragement to the rapidly diminishing minority Christian community in the Middle East, says the BBC's Vatican correspondent David Willey.But his main aim is to give hope and encouragement to the rapidly diminishing minority Christian community in the Middle East, says the BBC's Vatican correspondent David Willey.
Pope in the Holy Land: The issues Profile: Pope Benedict XVI
Before the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, up to 20% of the population of the Palestinian lands where Jesus Christ lived and died was Christian. That number has now dwindled to just two percent.Before the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, up to 20% of the population of the Palestinian lands where Jesus Christ lived and died was Christian. That number has now dwindled to just two percent.
The 82-year-old would like to go down in history as a peacemaker, although his chances of success are seen as slim by most political observers in the Middle East, our correspondent says. On his first day in Amman, the Pope will have private talks King Abdullah, who claims direct descent from the Prophet Mohammad.
Since his election four years ago, Benedict has infuriated Muslims with a speech linking the Prophet Muhammad with violence. On Saturday, he will visit Mount Nebo, where, according to the Bible, the prophet Moses is said to have first seen the promised land.
He later said he was "deeply sorry" over the reaction to the remarks and that the passage he quoted did not reflect his own opinion.
More recently, the German-born pope offended Jewish leaders by lifting the ex-communication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.


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