Something tells me this might become a big deal. I’m pretty proud of Pope Benedict XVI for leaving if the reports are accurate. It seems that a high ranking Muslim cleric may have commandeered the microphone just after Pope Benedict’s speech to yell and scream about how awful Israel was.The Jerusalem Post reports:
A leading Palestinian cleric commandeered an evening devoted to interfaith dialogue with Pope Benedict XVI on Monday to rant against Israel for “killing Gaza’s children,” “bulldozing Palestinian homes” and “destroying mosques.”
In an impromptu speech, delivered in Arabic at the Notre Dame Pontifical Institute in Jerusalem, Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi, chief Islamic judge in the Palestinian Authority, launched a 10-minute tirade against the State of Israel for confiscating Palestinians’ land and carrying out war crimes against the residents of Gaza.
He also called for the immediate return of all Palestinian refugees, and called on Christians and Muslims to unite against Israel.
Tamimi invoked the name of Saladin, the Muslim sultan who recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187. Tamimi said that unlike Israel, Saladin upheld the religious freedoms of all faiths.
Following the diatribe and before the meeting was officially over, the pope exited the premises. However, he shook Tamimi’s hand before walking out.
The Pope, speaking before Tamimi, discussed the importance of religion and truth for the advancement of humanity’s mutual understanding.
The pope left the room immediately after Tamimi was done speaking, passing on the traditional exchange of gifts. This will be interesting to see how this is reported. It has two things working against it. The media doesn’t like to report Islamists acting crazy. And it definitely doesn’t like the Pope.
But I wonder if Muslims will take great offense at this. We’ll see.
May 12, 2009 at 1:06 am
“However, he shook Tamimi’s hand before walking out.”
IMO the only fly in the ointment.
May 12, 2009 at 1:22 am
The BBC just don’t seem to be reporting this (unless it gets updated later):
‘A Palestinian cleric, Taysir Tamimi, commandeered the microphone and gave an unscheduled speech attacking Israel’s recent war in Gaza and its occupation of the West Bank.
Some in the crowd applauded while others appeared visibly uncomfortable. The Pope was not seen to react. ‘
See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8043113.stm
May 12, 2009 at 1:56 am
Reuters says that the meeting broke up as scheduled after the tirade, and makes no mention of the pope leaving early.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/usTopNews/idUKTRE54A4YW20090511?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0
May 12, 2009 at 2:52 am
One has to remember that the Pope is scheduled to meet Muslim clerics at the AlAqsa mosque. No doubt Tamimi or one of his confreres will turn up there too. Many if not most Jewish and Muslim clerics seem disinclined to give the Pope a break. Yesterday at Vad Yashem, the Chief Rabbi Nachmann Lau was miffed that the Pope did not burst out crying. It did not occur to Lau that men of the Pope’s generation don’t wear their hearts on their sleeves. The Holy Father has to do a high wire act each day that he is there, let us say a prayer for him everyday.
May 12, 2009 at 5:22 am
The Pope does not speak or understand Arabic. Therefore, it seems logical to assume he really didn’t know what was going on during the tirade until it was “awkward”. And even afterwards, he probably wasn’t 100% certain and needed clarification from a credible source as to what was said. So, his reactions seem entirely sound.
Ivan – you are absolutely correct there. The Pope is merely experiencing what Christians in Israel experience on a daily basis.
May 12, 2009 at 5:09 pm
As a Christian person who has been there and seen it, it is indeed true that Israel bulldozes Palestinian homes… no one in the US would put up with that while waiting decades for some sort of peace accord.