Pope Francis Unites Israeli and Palestinian Presidents in Prayer - Mail Online

SHARE SELECTION
Pope Francis unites Israeli and Palestinian

presidents in prayer as they plant an olive tree
together in the Vatican gardens
Israel's Shimon Peres and Palestine's Mahmoud Abbas met in Vatican garden
They joked and hugged before invocation of Jewish, Christian, Muslim prayer
Pope says: 'Peacemaking calls for courage, much more so than warfare'
By Matthew Blake
Published: 11:46, 9 June 2014 | Updated: 13:08, 9 June 2014
The Pope waded into the Middle East peace process last night, uniting the leaders of Israel and Palestine
through the power of prayer during a tranquil sunset summit in the gardens of the Vatican.
Political and religious differences were put to one side last night as Israeli President Shimon Peres and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas joked and hugged at Francis' Vatican residence before attending an
al fresco invocation of Jewish, Christian and Muslim worship.
In a meeting that better resembled an outdoor summer wedding than a diplomatic parley, the three men
passed along a receiving line as guests mingled on the lawn to the serene harmonies of a string ensemble.
Scroll down for video
Pope Francis unites Israeli and Palestinian presidents in prayer | Mail O... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2652756/Pope-Francis-unites-...
1 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15
SHARE PICTURE
Copy link to paste in your message
+6
United in prayer: Political and religious differences were put to one side last night as
Israeli President Shimon Peres (left) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (right)
joked and hugged at Francis' Vatican residence before attending a sunset invocation of
Jewish, Christian and Muslim worship
2 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15
SHARE PICTURE
+6
Momentous: The pope, the two presidents and Patriarch Bartholomew then planted an
olive tree and members of each delegation shook hands as music played before
adjourning for private talks
Pope Francis unites Israeli and Palestinian presidents
3 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15
The pope, the two presidents and Patriarch Bartholomew then planted an olive tree and members of each
delegation shook hands as music played before adjourning for private talks.
'Peacemaking calls for courage, much more so than warfare. It calls for the courage to say yes to encounter
and no to conflict; yes to dialogue and no to violence; yes to negotiations and no to hostilities,' Francis said
during the ceremony.
The pope spoke after Jewish rabbis, Christian cardinals and Muslim Imams read and chanted from the Old
Testament, the New Testament and the Koran in Italian, English, Hebrew and Arabic in the first such inter-
religious event in the Vatican.
At times the chanting made it seem that participants were in a synagogue or outside a mosque in the Middle
East rather than a primly manicured triangular lawn, a spot the Vatican chose as a 'neutral' site with no
religious symbols.
SHARE PICTURE
4 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15
+6
Interfaith: The pope, the two presidents and Patriarch Bartholomew stood for a picture
before heading off for private talks. The pope spoke after Jewish rabbis, Christian
cardinals and Muslim Imams read and chanted from the Old Testament, the New
Testament and the Koran in Italian, English, Hebrew and Arabic in the first such inter-
religious event in the Vatican
SHARE PICTURE
+6
Differences aside: Presidents Peres and Abbas joked and hugged at the ceremony, which
included a group handshake as a gesture of peace
In his strong speech in Italian, Francis called for respect for agreements and rejection of acts of provocation.
'All of this takes courage, it takes strength and tenacity,' he said.
Francis, who made the surprise invitation to the two leaders during his trip to the Holy Land last month, said
5 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15
that the search for peace was 'an act of supreme responsibility before our consciences and before our
peoples' and noted that millions around the world of all faiths were praying with them for peace.
'We have heard a summons and we must respond. It is the summons to break the spiral of hatred and
violence, and to break it by one word alone: the word 'brother',' the pope said as Peres and Abbas listened
intently and read the live translations.
SHARE PICTURE
+6
Friendly: In a meeting that better resembled an outdoor summer wedding than a
diplomatic parley, the three men passed along a receiving line as guests mingled on the
lawn to the gentle harmonies of a string ensemble before the ceremony began under the
shadow of St. Peter's Basilica
6 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15
SHARE PICTURE
+6
'Supreme responsibility': Francis, who made the surprise invitation to the two leaders
during his trip to the Holy Land last month, said that the search for peace was 'an act of
supreme responsibility before our consciences and before our peoples'
He said the children who have been the innocent victims of wars and conflicts made the search for peace an
imperative. 'The memory of these children instils in us the courage of peace, the strength to persevere
undaunted in dialogue,' Francis said.
It was the first public meeting between the two presidents in more than a year and took place more than a
month after United States-led peace talks collapsed amid bitter mutual recrimination.
Peres, who is 90 years old and whose mandate expires next month, departed from his prepared speech in
English and Hebrew to say that he was an old man who had 'seen war' and 'tasted peace' and that all leaders
owed their children a better future.
Abbas prayed to God 'to bring comprehensive and just peace to our country and region so that our people
and the peoples of the Middle East and the whole world would enjoy the fruit of peace, stability and
coexistence'.
7 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15
Click to rate
Click to rate
Click to rate
Click to rate
Click to rate
Comments (18)
Share what you think
Newest
Oldest
Best rated
Worst rated
View all
dasitmane, Sunderland, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago
Religion has such a bad name these days. It's always nice to see the odd article showing the nicer side regardless of what we
believe.

0
4
Very Bored, Harrogate, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago
How ironic, given that Israeli settlers are digging up and burning Palestinian olive trees all over the occupied West Bank. Let's hope
something positive will come of this gesture of goodwill.

10
10
mazzles, London, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago
I am not religious but Pope Francis seems to have a genuine likeability and ability to instil peace

4
11
thebricklayer, Manchester, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago
Apologies for any interruption in the programme. Normal hostilities will be resumed as soon as possible.

2
5
Ken Mist, Paris, 1 hour ago
He'll have more success than Blair

2
3
onedeadeye, Brampton, 1 hour ago
Looks a bit like the local council!
8 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15
Click to rate
Click to rate
Click to rate
Click to rate
Click to rate

2
2
Abis Dad, Not where I want to be, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago
At last - an answer to that age old question - if it takes one man 2 hours to plant a tree, how long does it take 3 men?

1
4
its just my opinion, Doncaster, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago
is this a competition to spot the liar. because I can.

3
1
Fiona, London, 1 hour ago
I'm impressed with this Pope's efforts with the Israelis and Palestinians, he's certainly making more effort than the Middle East
Peace Envoy.

2
8
dailymale, London, 1 hour ago
Are they going to make good use of the peace shovels? This Pope appears to be a Christian, it wont last the Vatican is all about
power and making money.

3
3
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now
SHARE PICTURE
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
Associated Newspapers Ltd

9 of 9 09/06/2014 15:15

Pope Francis Unites Israeli and Palestinian Presidents in Prayer - Mail Online

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Pope Francis Unites Israeli and Palestinian Presidents in Prayer - Mail Online

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

SHARE SELECTION

Pope Francis unites Israeli and Palestinian

S-ar putea să vă placă și