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Pope makes visit to Jordan mosque Pope warns of misuse of religion
(about 2 hours later)
Pope Benedict XVI is visiting Jordan's largest mosque on the second day of his visit to the Middle East. Pope Benedict XVI has warned against the misuse of religion for political ends, in a speech to Muslim leaders on the second day of his visit to Jordan.
The pontiff prayed at the King Hussein Mosque in the capital, Amman, and is addressing local Muslim leaders. Speaking in the King Hussein Mosque in Amman, he suggested that violence comes from "manipulation of religion" rather than a clash of religious beliefs.
He began the day with a visit to Mount Nebo, where the Bible says Moses saw the Promised Land before he died. The pontiff is also due to visit Israel and the West Bank on an eight-day tour.
Analysts say the Pope is keen to mend relations with the Islamic world. Many Muslims took offence to a speech he made in 2006. Analysts say he is keen to improve ties with the Islamic world. A speech he made in 2006 offended many Muslims.
The Pope's eight-day tour - his first to the region as pontiff - will take him to Israel and the West Bank. Some groups in Jordan had called for him to apologise for the speech, in which he quoted a medieval scholar who criticised the Prophet Muhammad.
But the pontiff apologised at the time, and did not refer to the 2006 speech during his address at the Amman mosque.
'Catalyst for tension'
Instead he called on Jordan's Muslims and Christians to work together to improve their society.
He said: "Certainly, the contradiction of tensions and divisions between the followers of different religious traditions, sadly, cannot be denied.
POPE'S MIDDLE-EAST SCHEDULE On Sunday Pope gives an open-air Mass and will pray at Wadi Kharrar on the east bank of the River Jordan, where Christians believe Jesus was baptised.On Monday Pope travels to Tel Aviv for four days in Israel and the Palestinian territories.While there he will visit a Palestinian refugee camp and is also due to visit Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. In pictures: Pope visits Jordan Pope in the Mid East: The issues Jordanian hopes high Profile: Pope Benedict XVI Send us your comments
"However, is it not also the case that often it is the ideological manipulation of religion, sometimes for political ends, that is the real catalyst for tension and division, and at times even violence in society?"
As he arrived in Amman on Friday he described himself as a "pilgrim of peace" and stressed his "deep respect" for Islam.As he arrived in Amman on Friday he described himself as a "pilgrim of peace" and stressed his "deep respect" for Islam.
POPE'S MID EAST SCHEDULE On Sunday Pope gives an open-air Mass and will pray at Wadi Kharrar on the east bank of the River Jordan, where Christians believe Jesus was baptised.On Monday Pope travels to Tel Aviv for four days in Israel and the Palestinian territories.While there he will visit a Palestinian refugee camp and is also due to visit Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. In pictures: Pope visits Jordan Pope in the Mid East: The issues Jordanian hopes high Profile: Pope Benedict XVI Send us your comments
Jordan's King Abdullah welcomed the Pope to "the heartland of faiths for Christians and Muslims alike".Jordan's 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 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 Pope has upset both Muslims and Jews during his time at the Vatican. As well as his 2006 speech to which some Muslims took offence, the Pope has also upset some Jews recently by rescinding the ex-communication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.
During a speech in 2006 he quoted a medieval scholar who linked the Islamic faith to violence - he later apologised after an outcry among Muslims.
And Jewish leaders were angered recently when the Vatican lifted an ex-communication of a Holocaust-denying bishop.