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| Pope visits Jerusalem holy sites | Pope visits Jerusalem holy sites |
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| Pope Benedict XVI is visiting sites in Jerusalem holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians on the second day of his visit to the Holy Land. | Pope Benedict XVI is visiting sites in Jerusalem holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians on the second day of his visit to the Holy Land. |
| He visited the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, becoming the first pontiff to see the site, and then the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest places. | He visited the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, becoming the first pontiff to see the site, and then the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest places. |
| Later, he will pray where Christ is said to have eaten his last meal before crucifixion. | Later, he will pray where Christ is said to have eaten his last meal before crucifixion. |
| On Monday, he paid tribute to Holocaust victims at the Yad Vashem memorial. | On Monday, he paid tribute to Holocaust victims at the Yad Vashem memorial. |
| "May the names of these victims never perish. May their suffering never be denied, belittled or forgotten," he said in the midst of survivors. | "May the names of these victims never perish. May their suffering never be denied, belittled or forgotten," he said in the midst of survivors. |
| But the chairman of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Directorate, Avner Shalev, said he was disappointed that the Pope did not more strongly condemn the Nazis. | But the chairman of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Directorate, Avner Shalev, said he was disappointed that the Pope did not more strongly condemn the Nazis. |
| The Pope began his day at the Dome of the Rock, located on the Temple Mount - a site sacred to all three religions in the city. | The Pope began his day at the Dome of the Rock, located on the Temple Mount - a site sacred to all three religions in the city. |
| POPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon PeresTuesday Visits the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. Celebrates Holy Mass in Josaphat ValleyWednesday Visits Bethlehem, visits refugees, meets Mahmoud AbbasThursday Mass in Nazareth, talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets FranciscansFriday Meets Orthodox Christian leaders, departs Itinerary: Israel and West Bank Press operations compete Pope in the Mid East: The issues | POPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST Monday Arrives in Israel, meets President Shimon PeresTuesday Visits the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. Celebrates Holy Mass in Josaphat ValleyWednesday Visits Bethlehem, visits refugees, meets Mahmoud AbbasThursday Mass in Nazareth, talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, meets FranciscansFriday Meets Orthodox Christian leaders, departs Itinerary: Israel and West Bank Press operations compete Pope in the Mid East: The issues |
| He removed his shoes according to Islamic tradition when entering a holy site and met the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Mohammad Hussein. | He removed his shoes according to Islamic tradition when entering a holy site and met the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Mohammad Hussein. |
| "Here the path of the world's three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what they share in common," said the Pope. | "Here the path of the world's three great monotheistic religions meet, reminding us what they share in common," said the Pope. |
| "This sacred place serves as a stimulus, and also challenges men and women of goodwill to work to overcome misunderstandings and conflicts of the past and set out on the path of a sincere dialogue." | "This sacred place serves as a stimulus, and also challenges men and women of goodwill to work to overcome misunderstandings and conflicts of the past and set out on the path of a sincere dialogue." |
| The mufti, a leading Muslim cleric in Jerusalem, called on the Pope to end Israeli "aggression" against Palestinians in Israel. | The mufti, a leading Muslim cleric in Jerusalem, called on the Pope to end Israeli "aggression" against Palestinians in Israel. |
| "We look forward for your holiness's effective role in putting an end to the ongoing aggression against our people, our land, and our holy sites in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. | "We look forward for your holiness's effective role in putting an end to the ongoing aggression against our people, our land, and our holy sites in Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. |
| There was no live television coverage of the visit because of a dispute between Israeli and Palestinian broadcast companies, said the BBC's David Willey, who is travelling with the Pope. | There was no live television coverage of the visit because of a dispute between Israeli and Palestinian broadcast companies, said the BBC's David Willey, who is travelling with the Pope. |
| The Pope then moved to the nearby Western, the so-called Wailing Wall, where he met Israel's chief rabbis. | The Pope then moved to the nearby Western, the so-called Wailing Wall, where he met Israel's chief rabbis. |
| The wall is part of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount, dating back to a time when a Jewish temple stood there. | The wall is part of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount, dating back to a time when a Jewish temple stood there. |
| He said the visit gave him the opportunity to reiterate the Catholic Church's commitment to "a genuine and lasting reconciliation between Christians and Jews". | He said the visit gave him the opportunity to reiterate the Catholic Church's commitment to "a genuine and lasting reconciliation between Christians and Jews". |
| The Pope placed a written prayer into a gap in the wall, before standing with his head bowed before the wall. | The Pope placed a written prayer into a gap in the wall, before standing with his head bowed before the wall. |
| His prayer asked the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" to send "peace upon this Holy Land, upon the Middle East, upon the entire human family". | His prayer asked the "God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" to send "peace upon this Holy Land, upon the Middle East, upon the entire human family". |
| Operation 'White Robe' | Operation 'White Robe' |
| Guide: Jerusalem's holy sites | Guide: Jerusalem's holy sites |
| Tuesday is the second day of the pontiff's five-day visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank. | Tuesday is the second day of the pontiff's five-day visit to Israel and the occupied West Bank. |
| He began his trip on Monday by saying in Tel Aviv that anti-Semitism was totally unacceptable. | He began his trip on Monday by saying in Tel Aviv that anti-Semitism was totally unacceptable. |
| He also voiced support for the Palestinians' right to a homeland. | He also voiced support for the Palestinians' right to a homeland. |
| The Dome of the Rock sits on the plateau known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary). | The Dome of the Rock sits on the plateau known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary). |
| Islamic tradition says that the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from the spot marked by the mosque at the Dome of the Rock, whose gilded cupola dominates Jerusalem. | Islamic tradition says that the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from the spot marked by the mosque at the Dome of the Rock, whose gilded cupola dominates Jerusalem. |
| According to Jewish tradition, the rock that is the centre of the Dome of the Rock is the site where Abraham bound his son Isaac for sacrifice. | |
| The Temple Mount is also sacred to Jews because it marks the location of the original temple of Solomon. | The Temple Mount is also sacred to Jews because it marks the location of the original temple of Solomon. |
| It is also sacred to Christians because it was here that Jesus Christ is said to have argued with the high priests. | It is also sacred to Christians because it was here that Jesus Christ is said to have argued with the high priests. |
| The pontiff will also visit the reputed site of Jesus's Last Supper with his disciples before his crucifixion and resurrection. | The pontiff will also visit the reputed site of Jesus's Last Supper with his disciples before his crucifixion and resurrection. |
| Israel has beefed up security for the trip in an operation named "White Robe", with tens of thousands of law-enforcement officers deployed and entire sections of Jerusalem shut down. | Israel has beefed up security for the trip in an operation named "White Robe", with tens of thousands of law-enforcement officers deployed and entire sections of Jerusalem shut down. |