Pope Benedict the XVI threaded his way through the Middle East today as he continued his “pilgrimage” in Israel. He met the Palestinians' senior cleric, the Grand Mufti, at the Dome of the Rock, then left a prayer in a niche in the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites. Rabbis and politicians have criticized his speeches, and the Vatican denied that he'd ever belonged to Hitler Youth — contradicting the Pope himself. Will his visit help reinvigorate the peace process? Will it be a boon for the diminishing number of Christians who still live in the Holy Land?
The Papal Visit: Religion and Politics in the Middle East
Credits
Guests:
- Anshel Pfeffer - Ha'aretz - @AnshelPfeffer
- Richard McBrien - Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
- Alex Awad - United Methodist Missionary in Jerusalem
- Mahdi Abdul Hadi - Chairman, Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs