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Pope begins Mid-East pilgrimage Pope begins Mid-East pilgrimage
(about 1 hour later)
Pope Benedict XVI stressed his "deep respect" for Islam as he arrived in Jordan to begin a Middle East visit.Pope Benedict XVI stressed his "deep respect" for Islam as he arrived in Jordan to begin a Middle East visit.
The Pope described religious freedom as a fundamental human right, and said he hoped the Catholic church could play a role in the Middle East peace process. He described religious freedom as a fundamental human right, and said he hoped the Catholic church could play a role in the Middle East peace process.
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 Pope says he is going on his eight-day tour - his first to the region as pontiff - as a "pilgrim of peace".
After Jordan, his tour also takes him to Israel and the West Bank. But Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence.
The pontiff was met at the airport by Jordan's King Abdullah, Queen Rania and Muslim and Christian leaders. After Jordan, the Pope's tour will take him to Israel and the West Bank.
He was met at the airport in Amman by Jordan's King Abdullah, Queen Rania and Muslim and Christian leaders.
A Jordanian army band with bagpipes and drums played the Vatican and Jordanian national anthems before the Pope and King Abdullah inspected the honour guard.A Jordanian army band with bagpipes and drums played the Vatican and Jordanian national anthems before the Pope and King Abdullah inspected the honour guard.
The Pope's tour of the holy places of Christendom is aimed at encouraging the minority Christian community in the Middle East, and creating a better dialogue with Muslims and Jews. King Abdullah welcomed the Pope to "the heartland of faiths for Christians and Muslims alike".
'Death threats' "What is home to us, we make home to you," he said.
However, Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence. The Pope praised Jordan's "respect for religion".
"Religious freedom is of course a fundamental human right and it is my fervent hope and prayer that respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of every man and woman may come to be increasingly affirmed and defended not only throughout the Middle East but in every part of the world," he said.
Creating dialogue
The Pope's visit is aimed at encouraging the minority Christian community in the Middle East, and creating a better dialogue with Muslims and Jews.
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, Pope 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 the pontiff 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". Meanwhile, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that anonymous jihadis have called for Pope Benedict's assassination during his stay in Jordan, branding him "the enemy of Islam".
Christian minorityChristian 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 Send us your commentsThe 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 Send us your comments
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.
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 Saturday, he will visit Mount Nebo, where, according to the Bible, the prophet Moses is said to have first seen the promised land.