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Pope Benedict XVI Ends Middle East Trip With Plea for Peace

by Rob Walker | May 15, 2009 at 05:36 am

392 views | 10 Recommendations | 5 comments

Pope Benedict XVI ended his eight-day pilgrimage to the Middle East by calling for an end to fighting between Israel and Palestinians, and repeated calls that the Holocaust never be repeated or forgotten.

The Pope's trip has been surrounded in controversy, including the Vatican's denial of the Pope's involvement in the Hitler Youth organization earlier this week. His call for a two-state solution in Israel also garnered quite a bit of attention.

Pope Benedict delivered his last messages from Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport, saying that the separation barrier was 'one of the saddest sights for me' during his visit.

The pope has sought to walk a narrow line between the tripwires of Middle East politics, addressing the concerns of Israelis and of Palestinians. As he left, he spoke in a farewell statement from Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport of the separation barrier that Israel has built to fence itself off from Palestinian areas, saying it was “one of the saddest sights for me during my visit to these lands.”

At a farewell ceremony, attended by Israeli leaders, he called for "no more bloodshed, no more fighting".
He said the Holocaust "must never be forgotten or denied".

Israeli President Shimon Peres thanked him for his visit, calling it a "profound demonstration of the enduring dialogue" between Christians and Jews.

Photos

Pope Benedict XVI vist in Aida camp, Bethlehem, Palestine, 13/5/2009.

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Paschen

at 07:36 on May 15th, 2009

The plea is needed, lets hope all listen and try to implement it as well.

Peace is needed and no differences can ever justify war, especially not for over two generations.

Sulayman Hart

at 11:01 on May 15th, 2009

I have also posted video footage and news items on the Official Website of A Common Word.

(http://acommonword.com/en/a-common-word/11-new-fruits-of-a-common-word/257-pope-benedict-xvi-visits-jordan.html)

Sulayman Hart has contributed a photo to this story.

Braden Fastier

at 02:41 on May 16th, 2009

Pope Benedict XVI walks past the last of the 200,000 pilgrims and priests to make his final official speech at the Final Mass at Royal Randwick Raceway for the 2008 World Youth Day. The event is organized by the Catholic Church every two to three years, and is an invitation from the Pope to the youth of the world to celebrate their faith. Photo: Braden Fastier.

All images are copyright

find more images on my Flickr photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/braden_fastier/3517221145/in/set-72157617935574766/

Braden Fastier has contributed a photo to this story.

Lord Movie

at 21:34 on May 16th, 2009

This is a great photo from the Mass with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Nazareth.
For more photos and movies from the Galilee you are welcome to visit us at:
www.LordMovie.com

Lord Movie has contributed a photo to this story.

Earl Shugerman (not verified)

at 23:42 on May 19th, 2009

The Israeli-Arab conflict started in 1948, with the refusal of The Arab League to accept the partition plan of Palestine. They invaded both Palestinian and Jewish areas causing refugees of both Jewish and Muslim origin. I live in Israel and hope that the Papal visit can help bring an end to the fighting by promoting better understanding among all faiths in this area.

Earl Shugerman