Pope Benedict XVI in the Holy Land: Pilgrim of hope

Photo credit: CNS

The pope’s visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestine territories was a calling of peace to reconciliation; it was also an invitation to dialogue among the different Christian denominations, among the three monotheistic religions and among the nations. The newness of this visit and its speeches was that the Holy Father renewed hope, the hope of finding peace and reconciliation by means of dialogue and reason. In his 28 addresses, the pope expressed himself as the successor of Peter, as intermediary of peace, and also as the supreme authority of that small independent state which is the Holy See.

There are four fundamental aspects of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the Holy Land:

1. It was an encounter with Catholics who live in those territories.

2. It was an ecumenical and interreligious meeting.

3. It was an encounter with the past and the present, and

4. It was an exhortation to the reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Encounter with Catholics
During his different religious services with the Catholics, the pope spoke on two primary topics: family and dialogue. This year, the Holy Land celebrated the year of the family. The pope emphasized the church’s position over this theme: the family is based on the union between a man and a woman and is open to the gift of life. The Holy Father also remarked the obligation of the state to defend the family. In his encounters with the Catholics, the Holy Father also gave a message to the Christians of the Holy Land: “contribute to reconciliation and forgiveness, you are called to offer a message of hope.”

Ecumenical and interreligious encounter
Since the beginning of his pontificate, the ecumenical and interreligious dialogue has been one of the three priorities that have guided the government of Pope Benedict XVI. In regards to his ecumenical encounters, it is important to note that in this trip the pontiff met with Theophilus III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, as well as with the Armenian Patriarch. In these meetings the pope encouraged dialogue and union.

In regards to the interreligious dialogue, the Holy Father has reaffirmed what the church teaches on its relationship with the Jewish community: that we have common roots and share a spiritual inheritance; the pope has regretted hatred and the manifestations of anti-semitism. This time the pontiff assured his desire of deepening the relationship and understanding between the Holy See and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and he spoke of common themes for both religions such as the sacredness of life, the centrality of the family, the education for our youth and the conscious freedom.

In regards to the Muslim community, the Holy Father has indicated on several occasions the need to help and get to know each other better in order to grow in the esteem of the values that we share, and has exhorted the community to work together, using reason as a common base. Pope Benedict XVI on different times has met with Muslim leaders and on this occasion he met with the Grand Mufti, the supreme legal authority of Islam in Jerusalem and Palestinian territories.

Pope Benedict XVI also challenged them to surpass incomprehension and conflicts from the past, and on different occasions he emphasized his profound respect for the Muslim community.

Encounter with the past and the present
This visit of Pope Benedict XVI was an encounter with the past and the present. In visiting the Yad Vashem Memorial, which remembers the victims of the Holocaust, the pope assured the Jewish community of the church’s efforts to work tirelessly in order that hatred would not reign in the heart of mankind. At the end of his journey to the Holy Land, the pope once again condemned the Shoa and he referred to it as a period in history which should never be denied or forgotten.

With this act, the false interpretations that were attributed to the pope in his relationship with Judaism were left behind. This trip was also an encounter with the present, as Benedict XVI not only condemned the Shoa and the anti-semitism, but he also urged to work together in reconciliation and mutual understanding among Christians, Jews and Muslims.

Invitation to reconciliation and peace
The Holy See established bilateral relations with Israel 15 years ago, and with the Palestine National Authority eight years ago. In the Holy Land, Pope Benedict XVI expressed himself as the chief of an independent state, the Holy See, when he stated that Israel has the right to exist and to enjoy peace and security within the confines established internationally; but he also said that the Palestinians have also the right to live in an independent and sovereign country.

Pope Benedict XVI is not naive and knows very well the problems that exist in place to reach peace and reconciliation amongst the Israelis and the Palestinians, but the Holy Father knows well that Christ is the hope of this land.

Translation by Father Gonzalo Meza and Andrew Soliz.