Perspectives on the Pope

Pope Benedict XVI  makes his first trip to the Middle East this week to visit sites sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims.

We’re following reactions to his “pilgrimage of peace” as the Vatican calls it.

But MSNBC said that avoiding controversy in the Holy Land is nearly impossible.

“He can’t separate religion from politics here. In Bethlehem here this morning he held Mass in Manger Square but he also acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians and he supports a Palestinian state, well that won’t go down well with the Israelis.” (MSNBC)

An editorial in The Jerusalem Post criticized the Pope for failing to address a number of issues important to Jews during a speech at a Holocaust memorial.

“… while Benedict's words of empathy were appropriate and welcome, an important opportunity for significant progress in true reconciliation was squandered during this visit.” (Jerusalem Post)

In defending the Pope, a Vatican spokesman sparked more debate when he said the German-born pontiff had never been in the Hitler Youth.

But the Pope himself has said he joined the group when he was a boy.

The New York Times noted:

“…as has become familiar in Benedict’s four years as pope, the attempt at media relations stumbled.” (The New York Times)

France 24 reported that the Pope angered many Palestinians when he didn’t visit the contested Gaza Strip, even though he did call for a Palestinian homeland.

“I think it went some of the way, whether it went far enough to appease to Palestinians we’ll have to wait and see the reaction.” (France 24)

And, in Germany, Die Welt summed things up this way:

“Given all the interests tugging at him, we can't expect radical statements. Benedict XVI will be busy enough avoiding pitfalls and not putting noses out of joint. As the great Jewish comedian Woody Allen once said: 90 percent of success is just showing up." (Die Welt)