Pope John Paul II Confronts Religious, Political Issues in Bethlehem
LINDA STOUFFER, CNN ANCHOR: It's a busy day in Bethlehem as Pope John Paul II confronts both religious and political issues. CNN's Walter Rodgers joins us live from Bethlehem with the very latest. Hello, Walter.</s>WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Linda. Pope John Paul II is at this hour giving Holy Communion to the faithful in Bethlehem's Manger Square. For the past few hours, his holiness has been conducting a solemn, high mass here in the square. Now those who have been attending the mass are coming up and receiving Holy Communion from Pope John Paul II. In his homily delivered here in Manger Square, his holiness spoke of the transforming power of Christ, the Christ he said still able to bring peace to the hearts of mankind. This, he said, is the message of the Prince of Peace in Bethlehem. Earlier, before the Pope began celebrating this mass, he met with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, his holiness helicoptering into Bethlehem from Israel, the Pope at that point being greeted by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. This is, of course, an enormous occasion for the Palestinian president, Mr. Arafat, because he sees the papal visit as lending his -- lending support to the Palestinian's national aspiration for statehood. The Pope, of course, has been very careful in many respects not to become too political in this. But there were times, of course, when perhaps politics couldn't be avoided. When the Pope arrived earlier, he kissed the sacred earth of the Palestinians. Actually, it was more of a blessing than a kiss. In his younger days, the Pontiff would get down and kiss the ground. Now a basket of earth is lifted to him. And there, again, you see the Pope still giving communion here in Bethlehem's Manger Square. The square has resounded with hymns and anthems all morning. Earlier, as I was saying, in that reception for the Pope, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat injected a political element into this papal visit. That is, the Palestinian president, Mr. Arafat, staking out his claim to Jerusalem. Let's listen to what the Palestinian president said.</s>YASSER ARAFAT, PRESIDENT, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY (through translator): I welcome you as an esteemed guest to Palestine and Jerusalem, our eternal capital, the land of the prophets and messengers in this holy and blessed land, in the city of the Nativity, which welcomed the prophet of love and peace, Jesus Christ. Peace be upon him.</s>RODGERS: That was Palestinian President Yasser Arafat staking the Palestinian's claim to Jerusalem as their eternal capital, Jerusalem being a city with two tales, the other being that the claim of the Israelis to Jerusalem as their eternal capital. Those remarks were made yesterday by Ezer Weizman, the Israeli president, when the Pontiff arrived at Ben Gurian Airport. So the pontiff has been injected somewhat into the politics of the Middle East, particularly the Jerusalem area. And the pontiff has been very careful trying to straddle that issue. Still, in his remarks in Bethlehem upon arrival here, the pope made remarks which Palestinians see as ratifying their claims and earlier United Nations resolutions -- Palestinian claims to a homeland of their own. The pontiff spoke in very moving terms about Palestinian rights here.</s>POPE JOHN PAUL II: How could they fail to pray that the one gift of peace may become more and more reality for all who live in Islam, uniquely marked by God's intervention. Peace for the Palestinian people, peace for all the peoples of the region. No one can ignore how much the Palestinian people have had to suffer in recent decades. Your torment is before the eyes of the world.</s>RODGERS: The pontiff earlier, in his mass, had what you might call a rude confrontation with the political realities, if you will, and perhaps the theological realities of the Middle East. In the middle of his mass he was interrupted rather loudly by the Muslim call to prayer which echoed through Manger Square. The musim (ph) calling from the Mosque of Omar, the Muslim musim at... His holiness appeared to take it all in good stride. He is well aware of the various warring claims of religion in this part of the world, and he just paused during the middle of a mass in his homily, let the musim call the Islamic faithful to prayer, and then the Roman Catholic mass resumed -- Linda. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web