Pope Benedict arrived today in Washington, D.C., his Alitalia jet Shepherd One landing at Andrews Air Force Base late in the afternoon. The ceremony was quiet and reserved as he was greeted by various clerical dignitaries and officials after being inevitably welcomed by George Bush. Benedict lacks the dynamic charisma of John Paul II…but that would be a tough act to follow by almost anyone.
This was the first time a pope was greeted by an American president upon his arrival (however questionable Bush’s qualifications may be). The scheduled meeting, here in New York City, between Pope Benedict XVI and Rabbi Arthur Schneier at the Park East Synagogue on East 67th Street will also be a first. The meeting this Friday will mark the first time a pope visited a synagogue in America. Until now, only two papal visits to synagogues have occurred: by John Paul II in Rome in 1986 and by Pope Benedict himself in Cologne, four months after becoming pope.
Benedict is often criticized for his insensitivity towards other religions, accused of reactionary principles and dogmatic rigidness. I doubt if that is true. Then again, if it is, it would only be the Holy See’s response to the unstable and turbulent world we currently live in. After all, the Vatican is the oldest monarchy and oldest political organization of all time; it didn’t attain that status by allowing its interests to go unprotected for nearly seventeen centuries.
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April 17th, 2008 - 6:40 am
Good points. In any case, people are talking to each other as you pointed out. Talking face to face. I’m glad to see it.
April 18th, 2008 - 11:22 am
Seriously, yes, we heard about the Pope’s visit. John Paul II died before I was old enough to care about Catholicism (perhaps I should say before I was old enough to assimilate it into my knowledge) so I don’t remember much about him but, as with the presidency, I do now know something of both.