Benedict XVI becomes first pope to enter Dome of the Rock

Date: 12 / 05 / 2009  Time:  11:01
Jerusalem – Ma’an/Agencies –

Benedict XVI became the first pope in history to enter the iconic Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City, amid heavy security on Tuesday morning.

Before the pope arrived Palestinian politicians and clerics held a meeting with cardinals who accompanied Benedict on his tour of the Holy Land in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which includes the Dome of the Rock.

The pope was then welcomed at the entrance of the mosque by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammed Hussain, according to AFP.

In his address to the Mufti, Benedict spoke about the unity of the three monotheistic religions, beginning with the Arabic greeting "Asalamu Alaikum!" (Peace be upon you!).

“Undivided love for the One God and charity towards ones neighbor thus become the fulcrum around which all else turns. This is why we work untiringly to safeguard human hearts from hatred, anger or vengeance,” said the pope, according to the text of his prepared remarks.

Israeli authorities imposed intensive restrictions and security measures around the Old City of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque preparing to for the pontiff’s visit to Al-Aqsa and the Wailing Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism.

The pontiff is also scheduled to meet with Israel’s two senior rabbis in the Heichel Shlomo Synagogue in Jerusalem.

Benedict will visit the Church of the Dormition where Jesus is believed to have shared the last supper with his disciplines. Then he will have lunch in the Latin Patriarchate Cathedral with members of the Catholic Churches Council in the Holy Land.

Israeli police look down Jerusalem as Pope Benedict the sixth arrives

Tuesday May 12, 2009 16:58 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

The city of Jerusalem was on total look down as Pope Benedict XVI visited Islamic, Christian and Jewish holy sites in the old city.

On Monday The Israeli police closed down a Press office set up by Palestinians in the city to provide Press services for local and international Media during the Pope's visit. Ahmad Al Ruwidi, head of the Jerusalem affairs unit in the Palestinian President Office, say this is an attempt sideline the Palestinian community in the city.

"Israel wanted to present the city as it is unified Israeli city and to not allow the Pope to see and hear what the Palestinians living in the city of Jerusalem are facing." Al Ruwidi told IMEMC. In Gaza, Christian clerics and Palestinian officials said some 150 of 250 Christians who applied to leave the Hamas-ruled coastal territory to attend a papal mass in Jerusalem or Bethlehem had been denied permits to do so.

Israel confirmed that about 100 had been permitted entry from Gaza. Israeli officials have said they do all they can to ensure free access to holy sites, but have imposed some restrictions because of security concerns.

Israeli forces stop Bethlehem University faculty en route to interfaith conference with Pope Benedict

Date: 12 / 05 / 2009  Time:  21:39
Bethlehem - Ma’an -

Two Bethlehem University faculty were detained for questioning on their way to participate in an interfaith conference with Pope Benedict XVI Tuesday, university officials said.

According to BU the two men were held and then denied entry to Jerusalem by Israeli authorities. The delegates were faculty members at the university, university alumni and Bethlehem-area natives. The reasons for their denial were not explained.

“Unfortunately” the university commented, “this experience is common for our students, faculty and staff, many of whom navigate a maze of checkpoints, soldiers and other structures of military occupation simply to be present on campus.”

Despite its diminished delegation at the conference Bethlehem University got special mention by the pope. Praising local efforts at interfaith dialogue, Benedict noted BU’s “outstanding achievements” as examples of the “belief that our duty before God is expressed not only in our worship but also in our love and concern for society…and for all who live in this land.”

In a statement recording the pope’s special mention, BU noted its efforts at maintaining its “unique blend of Catholic identity and religious inclusivity” is the product of the administration’s “special focus on inter-religious initiatives.”

Highlighting its interreligious spirit, BU staff noted that the pope will receive an Arabic calligraphy piece containing the Gospel of Luke by local Muslim calligrapher Yasser Abu Saymeh, a teacher at BU.

Earlier in the day two Palestinian Authority officials were detained by Israeli forces on their way to the Al-Aqsa Mosque where they were to greet the pope during his historic visit to the holy site.

Bethlehem completes preparations for Holy Father's visit

Date: 12 / 05 / 2009  Time:  13:54
Bethlehem - Ma’an -

Preparations for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI’s arrival in Bethlehem Wednesday are completed, announced the Palestinian Authority on Tuesday.

While congratulating Palestinians on their efforts to receive the pope, the PA also condemned Israeli attempts to use the visit of the Holy Father as a platform to assert Jerusalem as the capital of Israel rather than a future Palestinian State.

Minister of Local Government and head of the preparations committee Ziad Bandak praised the high-level cooperation between security services and officials at local Muslim and Christian Holy sites, saying the smooth planning was exemplary of the mutual assistance between the peoples living and honoring the birthplace of Christ.

Bandak also noted the lack of cooperation with Israel, saying the Israeli military shut-down the Palestinian press operation at the Ambassador Hotel in East Jerusalem where Palestinian media had set up a location to cover the historic visit of the pope to Jerusalem.

The efforts of Palestinians around the visit of the Holy Father should send a message of peace to the world, and the Middle East in particular, said Bandak. He added that he hoped Pope Benedict’s visit to the Holy Land would encourage the Holy See and the international community to pressure Israel to halt their inhuman policies against Palestinians.

Palestinian Heritage Center to present kuffiyah to pope in Bethlehem

Date: 12 / 05 / 2009  Time:  12:33
Bethlehem – Ma’an –

The Palestinian Heritage Center in Bethlehem designed a special embroidered kuffiyah, or Palestinian scarf, to be presented to the pope when he visits Bethlehem’s Ayda Refugee Camp on Wednesday.

Maha Al-Saqa, the director of the center, said the scarf shows the star of Bethlehem, a key representing Palestinian refugees’ right of return, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Nativity, and the Vatican flag.

Pope will Visit Ayda camp on Wednesday after celebrating mass at the Church of the Nativity.

The kuffiyah, in winter and summer weaves, is worn during cold weather around the neck and on the head to keep off the sun in the summer months. The patterned scarf has become a nationalist symbol for Palestine, the black and white version made famous by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The traditional pattern of the scarf is seen at the bottom of the gift prepared for the pope.