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Pope begins Mid-East pilgrimage Pope begins Mid-East pilgrimage
(about 2 hours 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.
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. 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 Pope says he is going on his eight-day tour - his first to the region as pontiff - as a "pilgrim of peace".The Pope says he is going on his eight-day tour - his first to the region as pontiff - as a "pilgrim of peace".
But Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence.But Jordanian Islamist leaders have demanded that he apologise for a speech in 2006 that linked Islam and violence.
After Jordan, the Pope's tour will take him to Israel and the West Bank.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.
David Willey, BBC News, Amman:David Willey, BBC News, Amman:
Pope Benedict would like to go down in history as a peacemaker. Over the next week the Pope plans to make no fewer than 28 speeches.
But his chances of success are seen as slim by most political observers in the Middle East. He will have to tread carefully as he addresses very varied audiencies of Christians, Muslims and Jews, all eager to pick over his words.
He has also offended, unintentionally he claims, believers belonging to both the Muslim and Jewish religions for differing reasons during the past three years. The Pope is being deliberately even-handed as he begins to traverse what amounts to a potential verbal minefield.
He was met at the airport in Amman by Jordan's King Abdullah, Queen Rania and Muslim and Christian leaders.
The BBC's David Willey says the Jordanian royal couple broke protocol to greet the Pope in person. Normally the monarchs do not go to the airport to welcome visitors.The BBC's David Willey says the Jordanian royal couple broke protocol to greet the Pope in person. Normally the monarchs do not go to the airport to welcome visitors.
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.
King Abdullah welcomed the Pope to "the heartland of faiths for Christians and Muslims alike".King Abdullah welcomed the Pope to "the heartland of faiths for Christians and Muslims alike".
The 82-year-old Pope praised Jordan's "respect for religion".The 82-year-old Pope praised Jordan's "respect for religion".
The visit, he said, "gives me a welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community, and to pay tribute to the leadership shown by His Majesty the King in promoting a better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam.The visit, he said, "gives me a welcome opportunity to speak of my deep respect for the Muslim community, and to pay tribute to the leadership shown by His Majesty the King in promoting a better understanding of the virtues proclaimed by Islam.
He added: "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 will come to be increasingly affirmed and defended, not only throughout the Middle East, but in every part of the world."He added: "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 will come to be increasingly affirmed and defended, not only throughout the Middle East, but in every part of the world."
From the airport, Pope Benedict travelled into Amman for the first stop on his busy itinerary, a visit to a centre for the handicapped.
Creating dialogueCreating 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 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. As head of the Roman Catholic Church, he is seeking to strengthen ties with Jewish and Muslim leaders after offending believers of both religions in the past three years.
In 2006, Pope 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.
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 comments The Pope should apologise for angering 1.5 billion Muslims, otherwise he is not welcome Zaki Bani Rsheid Islamic Action Front chief href="/1/hi/in_pictures/8040683.stm">In pictures: Pope visits Jordan class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/8025602.stm">Pope in the Holy Land: The issues Profile: Pope Benedict XVI Send us your comments
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 the pontiff 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. 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".
"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 Pope Benedict's assassination during his stay in Jordan, branding him "the enemy of Islam".
Passive stancePassive stance
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.
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 our correspondent. But his main aim is to give hope and encouragement to the rapidly diminishing minority Christian community in the Middle East.