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| Pope begins Mid-East pilgrimage | Pope begins Mid-East pilgrimage |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| He begins his week-long trip in Jordan, then goes to Israel and the West Bank. | He begins his week-long trip in Jordan, then goes to Israel and the West Bank. |
| The visit is aimed at encouraging the minority Christian community in the Middle East, and creating a better dialogue with Muslims and Jews. | The visit is aimed at encouraging the minority Christian community in the Middle East, and creating a better dialogue with Muslims and Jews. |
| Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence. | 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. | 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. |
| 'Death threats' | |
| 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. | 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: | David Willey, BBC News, Amman: |
| Pope Benedict would like to go down in history as a peacemaker. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "Otherwise, he is not welcome in Jordan and his visit is rejected." |
| Meanwhile, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that anonymous jihadis have called for Benedict's assassination during his stay in Jordan, branding him "the enemy of Islam". | |
| Christian minority | |
| More recently, the German-born Pope offended Jewish leaders by lifting the ex-communication of a Holocaust-denying bishop. | 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. | 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. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| On his first day in Amman, the Pope will have private talks King Abdullah, who claims direct descent from the Prophet Mohammad. | On his first day in Amman, the Pope will have private talks King Abdullah, who claims direct descent from the Prophet Mohammad. |
| On Saturday, he will visit Mount Nebo, where, according to the Bible, the prophet Moses is said to have first seen the promised land. | On Saturday, he will visit Mount Nebo, where, according to the Bible, the prophet Moses is said to have first seen the promised land. |
| What is your reaction to Pope Benedict's visit to the Middle East? Will it have a positive effect? Send us your comments using the form below. | What is your reaction to Pope Benedict's visit to the Middle East? Will it have a positive effect? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |