2 years ago
WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) - They may have fundamental differences, but Thursday night some 200 religious leaders gathered in solidarity, vowing to promote understanding and peace.
"We can be instruments of peace for the whole human family," said Pope Benedict the sixteenth who concluded his trip to Washington with an inter-faith meeting with religious leaders from the Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Jain and Hindu communities.
"We need a conversation to understand each other, in order to respect the other side's beliefs even if we don't like it" says Catholic University Professor of Islamic Studies Ahmad Iravani.
Since becoming pope, the Holy Father has had some mis-steps, angering Muslims when he quoted a Christian emperor who disparaged the Prophet Mohammed. He also upset members of the Jewish faith by approving a Good Friday prayer in Latin that appears to call for the conversion of Jews.
Though he didn't directly address it, the Pope is reaching, privately meeting with Jewish leaders in Washington. He also has plans to visit a synagogue in New York.
The former president of the Jewish Life Network says, "I think he's making a special effort to give an indirect signal, that I was not meaning to offend you, that I really want to carry on. He has a tough act to follow. Pope John Paul the second reached out to Jews more than any pope in history."
Missing from this multi-faith discussion were Sikhs. They were invited to attend, but declined after being told the Kirpan, a dagger that they're required to wear was considered a weapon by Secret Service.
Buddhist Monk Dr. Jongmae Kenneth Park says he wishes the Sikhs would have been part of the discussions. "They're not going to harm anybody," he said.
The spiritual leaders concluded their meeting with the pope by offering tokens of friendship, ranging from a Menorah to the Qur'an.
Written by Nancy Yamada9NEWS NOW
