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Amman,
Jordan, 08 May 2009 – Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Jordan Friday at the
start of a Middle Eastern tour that will also take him to Israel and the
Palestinian territories. He immediately expressed respect for Islam and
praised Jordan for its efforts at promoting peace in the Middle East and
dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
At the airport to welcome the pope were King Abdullah and Queen Rania.
Dignitaries and prominent Muslim and Christian leaders were also
present. Benedict delivered a speech in which he said his visit to
Jordan gave him a welcome opportunity to speak of his deep respect for
the Muslim community.
"The Kingdom of Jordan has long been at the forefront of initiatives to
promote peace in the Middle East and throughout the world, encouraging
inter-religious dialogue, supporting efforts to find a just solution to
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, welcoming refugees from neighboring
Iraq, and seeking to curb extremism," he said.
The pope upset many in the Muslim world during a 2006 speech in which he
quoted a Medieval text that characterized some of the Prophet Muhammad's
teachings as "evil and inhuman," particularly "his command to spread by
the sword the faith." The pope said he was "deeply sorry" over the
reaction to his speech and that the passage he quoted did not reflect
his own opinion.
King Abdullah of Jordan, in his welcome address to the pope, said the
world must reject ambitious ideologies of division.
"Together we must renew our commitment to mutual respect. Here and now
we must create a new and global dialogue of understanding and good
will," he said.
The pope then visited the Regina Pacis Center, a special needs facility
that inspired Christian-Muslim dialogue and cooperation.
The pope's final engagement on his first day in Amman was a courtesy
visit to the King and Queen at the royal palace. On Saturday he has a
busy day, which will include a visit to Mount Nebo, where according to
biblical tradition God showed Moses the Promised Land.
He will also be visiting Jordan's largest mosque. It will be the second
time Benedict visits a Muslim place of prayer.
Father Rifat Bader is the spokesman of the Catholic Church in Amman.
"We are looking for this visit to the mosque to open hopes and doors for
the dialogue, to renew the enthusiasm in all the hearts, to continue the
path of dialogue because it will show how religion is very important to
build peace and justice in the whole Middle East and in the whole
world," he said.
Benedict will also be celebrating mass in Jordan on Sunday before
traveling on to Israel.
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