In the most Holy City in the world, Pope Francis brings together the world's three greatest religions with a joint hug for a Jew and a Muslim

• Pope Francis has invited the presidents of Israel and Palestine to the Vatican for prayers and talks early next month
• The Pontiff prayed at the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock - two of the holiest sites in Judaism and Islam
• He also visited a Holocaust memorial where he met several survivors of the Nazi regime and kissed their hands

Daily Mail | 26 May 2014

Pope Francis today continued his diplomatic initiative to revitalise the stalled Middle East peace process with a hugely symbolic gesture beside Judaism's holiest site.

Standing in front of the Western Wall, the Pontiff hugged his two friends, Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka and leader of the South American country's Muslim Community, Omar Abboud. Both men were part of the inter-faith delegation.

The three-day visit has been deemed a diplomatic success, despite some early controversy, after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres agreed to travel to the Vatican next month for talks.

Standing in front of the Western Wall, Pope Francis hugs Argentine Rabbi Abraham Skorka and the leader of Argentina's Muslim population Omar Abboud

Pope Francis bows his head briefly before placing a note in the Western Wall in Jerusalem on the third day of his visit to the Middle East

Pope Francis was greeted in the Old City of Jerusalem by the grand mufti Muhammad Ahmad Hussein, left, outside the Dome of the Rock, the third most holy site in Islam

 

The Pontiff prayed at some of the holiest sites in Christianity, Islam and Judaism over the past three days and will hold a mass this evening at the location believed to have been where Jesus hosted his last supper.

Pope Francis, in accordance with Jewish tradition left a note in a crack in the Western Wall calling for peace and understanding between the three religions.

He bowed his head solemnly at the site, which is regarded as the holiest location in Judaism. He performed a similar gesture earlier in his trip at a controversial Israeli 'peace wall' in Manger Square, Bethlehem. 

Pope Francis, right, greets his friends Rabbi Abraham Skorka, left and Omar Abboud, centre outside the Western Wall. Mr Skorka and Mr Abboud are firm friends with the Pontiff having worked together in Buenos Aires

Pope Francis laid a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem where he said God had been shamed by what man 'was capable of doing'

Pope Francis kissed the hands of several Holocaust survivors at the Yad Vahsem Holocaust museum during his visit to Jerusalem

This morning, Pope Francis visited the Dome of the Rock which is the third most holy site in Islam.

In a mark of respect, Pope Francis removed his shoes before stepping into the gold-topped dome where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammad ascended into heaven.

The mosque is known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The area is central to a territorial dispute between both religions.

Pope Francis addressed the grand mufti of Jerusalem and other Muslim dignitaries as 'dear brothers' during this morning's address.

In accordance with Jewish tradition, Pope Francis bowed his head and left a note calling for peace in the crack of the wall which is the holiest site in Judaism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, said he explained the security situation facing his country to Pope Francis, centre,

He said: 'May we respect and love one another as brothers and sisters. May we learn to understand the suffering of others. May no one abuse the name of God through violence.' 

Pope Francis also visited the Western Wall which is the holiest place in the Jewish world. He took time to pay homage to Jews murdered by the Nazis during World War Two.

The Pontiff has used his three day trip as a major diplomatic exercise having visited several of the most sensitive sites in the Muslim and Jewish world.

Pope Francis also prayed at the wall which dividing Bethlehem and Jerusalam which was seen as hugely symbolic.

The Western Wall is Judaisim's holiest prayer site and Pope Francis used the opportunity to call for peace between Jews, Christians and Muslims

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the opportunity of the Papal visit to explain the security situation facing Israel during an impromptu visit to a memorial to the victims of terrorism.

Among the names listed were 85 people killed in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish associaiton in Buenos Aires. Francis was an auxiliary bishop of the city at the time of the attack.

In particular Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the issue of the controversial security barrier erected by Israeli forces. Earlier in his trip, Pope Francis had prayed beside a section of the wall in Manger Square, Bethlehem.  

Commenting after the talks, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: 'I explained to the pope that constructing the fence (separation barrier) prevented many more victims of Palestinian terror, which continues today.'

In a later meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Pope Francis planted an olive tree - which is regarded as a sign of peace - in the garden of his official residence.

Pope Francis said: 'You are known as a man of peace and a maker of peace, and I express my admiration and thankfulness for your attitude.'

In response, President Peres replied: 'We would be honored to offer such a prayer either in our home or yours, in accordance with your kind offer.'

President Peres said the Papal visit would revitalise the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians 'based on two states living in peace, a Jewish state, Israel, and an Arab state, Palestine.'

Pope Francis also prayed for the victims of terrorism with Israeli President Shimon Peres (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, centre, on Mount Herzl

Pope Francis also held talks with Chief Rabbi David Lau, right, in the Heichal Shlomo Center in Jerusalem

Pope Francis also met with six Holocaust survivors, kissing each of them on the hand in an act of humility.

Writing in a memorial book, he commented: 'Never again, Lord, never again! Here we are, Lord, shamed by what man - created in your own image and likeness - was capable of doing.

'With shame for the fact that man made himself the owner of evil; with shame that man made himself into God and sacrificed his brothers. Never again!! Never again!! Francis. 5.26.2014.'

One of the survivors, Joeseph Gottdenker, 72, from Canada told the Pope of his experience: 'The Catholic people who saved me and risked the lives of their whole families to save me, they are looking down today and proud to see me meet the leader of their faith.'

In a dramatic diplomatic intervention, Pope Francis managed to invite Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, (left) and Israeli President Peres (right) to the Vatican next month

Earlier, in a hugely symbolic gesture, Pope Francis bowed his head at the Israeli 'peace wall' in Manger Square Bethlehem

Earlier, Pope Francis met with Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I of the Orthodox church after signing an agreement between Eastern and Western branches of Christianity