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Euroasian Jewish News
Pope Calls Alexander Mashkevich "Jewish Brother"
12.05.2009
 The Pope Benedict XVI, which is in Israel with a visit, has visited the most important holy places of Islam and Judaism in Jerusalem. Benedict XVI has become the first head of the Roman-Catholic Church to visit the Kubbat as-Sahra mosque on Temple Mount, a holy place for both Jews and Muslims. Benedict XVI called for believers of all confessions to overcome the conflicts of the past and to begin a dialogue. The Pope also prayed at the Wailing Wall.
Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Israel as part of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, during which the pontiff has met important religious and community leaders of the Near-East region, as well as with leaders of world Jewish organizations.
Thus, during a conversation with the religious leaders of Israel at a state reception in the residence of the President of Israel Shimon Peres, the pontiff met the President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) Alexander Mashkevich.
Alexander Mashkevich believes that, “the current visit of the pontiff to Israel will be the beginning of an inter-religious dialogue unrivaled for the past 2000 years.” The pontiff had a high opinion of the activity of the EAJC president concerning strengthening the ties between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and the dissemination of the ideas of tolerance throughout the world, and thanked Alexander Mashkevich for effective and varied charity and community activity. "My Jewish brother!" Were the words of greetings the Pope said to Alexander Mashkevich.
Having greeted the pontiff on behalf of the Jewry of the world, the EAJC President took part in a confidential meeting together with the Chief Rabbis of Israel Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar. Various matter of internal and external politics of both countries were discussed during the meeting, as well as the relationships between the main religions of the world, and the possibility of freeing the captured soldier Gilad Shalit through the mediation of the Vatican.
Benedict XVI visited the memorial complex dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust, Yad va-Shem in Jerusalem, and made a number of statements to make peace between the Catholics and the Jews. The visit of the Pope to Jerusalem was positively perceived by Israeli society. Over 100 rabbis, representatives of various movements in Judaism, signed a letter which hailed the visit of the Pope Benedict XVI to the Holy Land.
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