Papacy

Reuters | — “On the first day of his visit to Turkey, Pope Francis has called for interreligious dialogue “so that there will be an end of all forms of fundamentalism and terrorism.” Reuters: “Pope calls for interreligious dialogue to stop terrorism”

Christianity

Pope Francis’s Visit to Turkey Embroiled in Partisan Controversies

contributors

By Ali Murat Yel The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Turkey on 3-day official visit from November 28 to 30. However, the publication of Turkey’s official invitation letter in Milli Gazete, a Turkish daily, has caused an enormous stir in the country. As a result, Pope Francis’s visit has stirred controversy among […]

Christianity

Pope Francis hosts Israeli, Palestinian Leaders as “Brothers”

contributors

Deborah Lutterbeck reports: “Pope Francis, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attend a peace prayer meeting in “neutral” Vatican gardens.” Reuters: “Pope calls on Israelis, Palestinians to find “courage” for peace” The Catholic News Service reports the spiritual side of the event in more depth: “Pope, Peres, Abbas pray at Vatican” AFP […]

Apartheid

Pope Francis Calls for Palestinian State, Prays at Apartheid Wall

contributors

On Sunday in Bethlehem, Pope Francis called for recognition of an independent Palestinian state. CNN reports that he asked for “the acknowledgment by all of the right of two states to exist and to live in peace and security within internationally recognized borders.” As the AFP piece below makes clear, Pope Francis’s unscheduled stop at […]

Christianity

The Pope in Palestine: O Little Town of Bethehem caught in Apartheid Wall

contributors

Papal pilgrimage heads to Bethlehem (via AFP) Pope Francis arrives in Bethlehem Sunday to begin the most sensitive part of his three-day Middle East tour aimed at forging regional peace and easing an age-old rift within Christianity. After beginning his trip in Jordan on Saturday with an urgent… —— Related video: Pope Francis arrives […]

Christianity

Pope Francis in Jordan Reaches out to Forgotten Syrian Refugees, Christians and Muslims

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole AFP Arabic reports that Syrian refugees, and Christian refugees in particular, are hoping that the visit of Pope Francis to Jordan on Saturday will raise the profile of their plight. Jordan is a country of 6.3 million citizens, but it has another 600,000 or so Syrian refugees. Likely on the order of […]

Apartheid

Pope Francis to call for Sovereign, Independent Palestinian State from Bethlehem

Juan Cole

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin is signaling that Pope Francis in his visit to Bethlehem on Sunday will strongly support the right of Palestinians to a sovereign state. Implicitly, Pope Francis will condemn the Apartheid system of military rule used by Israel in the West Bank, though he likely won’t use the word. […]

Christianity

Will Pope Francis’s Visit to the West Bank be a Challenge to Occupation?

contributors

"This visit will help us in supporting our struggle to end the longest occupation in history." (By Lauren McCauley) On an upcoming trip to the Middle East, Pope Francis is expected to prioritize his visit with Palestinians, including a refugee camp, in a move interpreted by many as a 'recognition' of a future Palestinian state. […]