Pope and former president Peres have agreed to work together to make the Israeli university a ‘home base for dialogue among religions.’
Pope Francis received the president of Bar-Ilan University Rabbi Prof. Daniel Hershkowitz at the Vatican, and was presented with the university’s highest honor on Monday, amid protests from the Palestinian leadership.
The university’s top honor was presented to the pope in recognition of his lifelong efforts promoting peace and fighting for human rights.
“We are the sons of Abraham and we have the privilege and the responsibility to guide humankind on the path to peace,” the pope told the Bar Ilan delegation of 25 academics, as well as businesspeople from South America and Spain.
The Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization had lodged their protests to the Vatican over the pope’s agreement to see representatives of Bar Ilan, due to what they called the university’s right-wing positions and support for settlers and settlements.
Hershkowitz told the pope that former president Shimon Peres asked that Bar-Ilan University serve as a home base for dialogue among religions, an initiative which the pope and Peres have agreed to work together to advance. The pope welcomed this new development.
The reception with Pope Francis and presentation of the award marked the official opening of a year of festivities in celebration of Bar-Ilan University’s 60th anniversary.
“Peace and harmony were born much before religions were. The concepts of harmony and unity are shared by our respective religions. Unfortunately however, we are living in a world that is filled with hostility and animosity. Our very presence here signals a new beginning, a vista of opportunity. We are ever so aware of the need for dialogue and harmony, peace and coexistence,” Hershkowitz told the pope.
University ‘taking advantage’ of the pope, say Palestinians
Earlier this week, senior officials in the PA told Haaretz that PA Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki had informed the Vatican of the PA’s opposition to the meeting, which is scheduled. PLO Executive Committee member Hana Amira told Haaretz: “Bar-Ilan University is known for its right-wing positions and its support for settlers and settlements and it would be better for the pope and the Holy See not to agree to accept an award at this particular time, in which the Palestinians are fighting for their right to a state, and because the settlements are against international law.”
According to Amira, the university is taking advantage of the pope for its political purposes and the pope should remain outside this political debate.
The Palestinians said they regard Pope Francis as a close friend and noted his recent visit to Bethlehem, when he stood in prayer next to the separation fence.
It is unclear at this point to what extent the pope’s acceptance of the award will affect relations between the PA and the Vatican. However, sources in the PA said they could not let the meeting go by without responding.
HaAretz
The Devil’s den (izrael) as a place of religious arbitration? What has this world come to? This is just one reason I am no longer a catholic. Peter
is thaAT POS CATHOLIC NO
Jew in sheep’s clothing. Complete POS.
Religions have no major misunderstanding to talk about… All the problems will be solved if Israel returns the stolen lands back and treat Palestinians like human beings….
Disgusting old sycophant. Do a DNA check on that blow-fly….Bet he’s a marrano.
“I am Vatican II”,so proudly proclaims Pope Francis. That was the fatefull conference,back in 62,when the Jews finally took the Catholic Church- SEE: OPUS DEI ALERT.COM.This old man,is a sheep in wolves clothing. A dangerous puppet,who has done nothing but coddle the Jews since his elevation…’Both sons of Abraham’.NONSENSE…DO NOT BE FOOLED..the Jews have ZERO to do with real Christianity. Christ a break-A NEW COVENANT..that term now discarded by the Catholics. I am am ex Catholic…if you stay with them,you are aidin EVIL.. SEE: Yahweh-GOD OF THE NWO-Synagogue Of Saturn ,YT.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WAS INFILTRATED, BY THE JEWS A VERY LONG TIME AGO, WE ARE TALKING CENTURIES AGO, THE JESUITS, ARE THE POPE’S GESTAPO, A SECT OF JEWS WITHIN A RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION DOMINATED BY THE JEWS, THAT IS WHY WHEN SOME ONE ASKS A JEW IF HE IS A CHRISTIAN HE ALWAYS SAYS THAT HE IS CATHOLIC.
THE REST OF THE DENOMINATIONS WERE ALSO DIVIDED BY THE JEWS IN ORDER TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER AS THEY CREATED MOST DENOMINATIONS, SAME AS THEY LED THEM.
IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS CHRIST DID NOT CAME INTO THE WORLD TO CREATE CONFUSION, JESUS CAME JUST TO RE-INSTATE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANITY AND OUR CREATOR, ALL DENOMINATIONS OF ALL RELIGIONS WERE CREATED BY MAN, IN ORDER TO LORD OVER THE IGNORANT SHEEP.
JESUS CHRIST WARNED US OF WHY HIS SHEEP WERE PERISHING, HE SAID THAT IT WAS FOR LOCK OF KNOWLEDGE OF HIS LIVING WORD.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE SHEEP DOES NOT READ THE SCRIPTURES, THEY JUST GO TO A BUILDING TO BE BRAIN WASHED, WITH FALSE INFORMATION OF WHO GOD IS, AND USE THE SHEEP AS SLAVES TO OUT AND WORK TO BRING THE PROFITS TO THE WOLFS IN THE CHURCH.THEY ARE BEEN SCALPED OF A GOOD PORTION OF GOD’S BLESSINGS, INSTEAD OF PRACTICING WHAT JESUS SAID THAT “ALL HIS FOLLOWERS WERE TO BE HIS MINISTERS, NOT JUST THE FALSE CLOWN BEHIND THE PULPIT. WO GOT THEM CHAINED TO ITSELF WITH FEARS, OF IF THEY LEAVE THE CONGREGATION THEY BECOME “BACK SLIDERS” IN OTHER WORDS THE SHEEP IS MADE BELIVE THAT THEY WILL MISS GOD’S BLESSINGS FOR NOT CONGREGATING WITH THE REST OF THE IGNORANT SHEEP.
FRANCIS IS A JESUIT JEW THAT IS WHY. PERES IS ABOUT TO KISS HIS RELIGIOUS TRIBES MAN, A RELIGIOUS SHYSTER
Way to many Spanish Jews in the Catholic Church.
Way to many Freemasons in the Catholic Church.
Stop blaming “The Jesuits” for crying out loud. Just say…J-E-W-S.
I repeat, just say J-E-W-S.
Way to many Spanish Jews in the Columbian Cartels as well. Born in Israel.
I had put out the “tiniest” bit of hope that this Pope “might” just be in the throws of reform – playing a game of chess. But, I fear it is all over and the Christian world will not accept Muslim control of the Holy Sites.
Well, I reckon God is going to decide who controls those sites and I will bet in ten short years (I will be 54), Islam will control those sites and I say YAY!
Who is gonna save us? The Russian Orthodox Church? Hell, the Patriarch of the ROC wears a $30,000 watch (which they airbrushed out of a photo) – http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/world/europe/in-russia-a-watch-vanishes-up-orthodox-leaders-sleeve.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Not only that – he PERSONALLY OWNS a couple billion dollars worth of cigarette and vodka factories plus many other businesses. At least the Pope doesn’t personally own anything.
Just who do we turn to from the POV of an organised group against world jewery? Who?
So, what is it? Way to many JEWS in the Russian Orthodox Church?
What was that passage from the Old Testament? God said to the Israelites – “Because of your behaviour the heathan blaspheme my name.”
Maybe its all true – the disintegration must happen. We should make communities in isolated places and let the filth and degeneration collect in the cities. I really wonder what it is I’m fighting for. I just keep looking at the pictures of dead Palestinian kids to keep me going.
I guess all we have is each other.
Mark! Prepare a place for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would also add that Perez is as evil as Netanyahu.
These satanic bastards have been dragged to this point kicking and screaming. They can leave Palestine – thats what they can do. Its not like they have seen the light – they have seen the dust clouds of a gathering army – thats what they have seen.
Good old organised jewery – “morph” into their next chameleon form.
I thought Kissinger getting the peace prize was pretty much the biggest joke – but this one is better.