Pope: Reject hatred and prejudice
Pope Benedict XVI greeted tens of thousands of adoring followers in Jesus’ childhood home town with a message of reconciliation today, urging Christian and Muslim residents there to overcome recent strife and “reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice”.
The pope delivered his message on the fourth day of a Holy Land pilgrimage meant to promote peace and unity in the Middle East. Throughout the trip, however, he has been confronted with the region’s most sensitive issues, including the legacy of the Holocaust, the Palestinian plight under Israeli occupation and fragile interfaith ties.
The choice of Nazareth – home to many key sites in Christianity – as the venue for the largest mass the pope has celebrated during his visit was at least an indirect reflection of these challenges.
The city, located in northern Israel’s Galilee region, is the country’s largest Arab city with roughly two-thirds of its 65,000 people Muslims and one-third Christian. While the two communities tend to get along, they also have come into sporadic conflict.
Earlier this decade, Muslim activists outraged Christians when they built an unauthorised mosque next to the Basilica of the Annunciation, where Christians believe the Angel Gabriel foretold the birth of Jesus.
Israel later tore down the mosque.
Muslim activists also have periodically marched through the city in shows of strength meant to intimidate Christians.
In his homily, Benedict spoke of the tensions that have harmed interfaith relations.
“I urge people of good will in both communities to repair the damage that has been done, and in fidelity to our common belief in one God, the Father of the human family, to work to build bridges and find the way to a peaceful coexistence,” he said.
“Let everyone reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice, which kills men’s souls before it kills their bodies.”
The comments touched on some of the key themes the pope has focused on during the trip, which a day earlier took him to the West Bank town of Bethlehem - Jesus’ traditional birthplace. From there, Benedict issued a ringing appeal for an independent Palestinian state.
Later today he is to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu, who still resists the idea of an independent Palestinian state.
In Nazareth, where tradition holds that Jesus grew up, an estimated 40,000 people greeted the pope, many of them swaying back and forth to Arabic music played over loudspeakers, clapping in unison and waving yellow and white Vatican flags.
Today’s Mass was celebrated on Mount Precipice, where Christian tradition says a mob tried to throw Jesus off a cliff. Later, he headed to the Basilica of the Annunciation to worship and for talks with local religious leaders.
He is to return to the Vatican tomorrow.
According to tradition, Jesus travelled through the Galilee with his disciples preaching and performing miracles in the final years of his life.
