Associated Press
Vatican City – The king of Saudi Arabia met Tuesday with Pope Benedict XVI – the first-ever meeting between a pontiff and a reigning Saudi monarch – amid Vatican concerns about restrictions on Christian worship in the Muslim kingdom.
The Vatican said the “positive presence and work of Christians was raised” during the talks between Benedict and King Abdullah, who is protector of Islam’s holiest sites.
The talks were “warm” and allowed a wide discussion on the need for interreligious and intercultural dialogue among Christians, Muslims and Jews “for the promotion of peace, justice and spiritual and moral values, especially in support of the family,” the Vatican said in a statement.
Both sides also emphasized the need for a “just solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Vatican said.
Benedict has said he wants to reach out to all countries that still don’t have diplomatic relations with the Holy See, which include Saudi Arabia and China.
At the same time, Benedict and other Vatican officials have often protested that Christians are unable to worship openly in Saudi Arabia and are barred from opening churches in the desert kingdom.
The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano said the Vatican hoped the meeting would produce a frank dialogue between the two sides over the issue, noting that there are more than 1 million Christian guest workers in Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah also met separately with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
At the start of the audience, Benedict warmly greeted Abdullah, grasping both his hands before heading into 30 minutes of private talks in his library.
The Vatican said Abdullah had requested the audience, which came during his European tour. He had visited the Vatican twice before, as crown prince and deputy prime minister.
At the end of the meeting, Abdullah presented Benedict with a traditional Middle Eastern gift – a golden sword studded with jewels – as well as a gold and silver statue of a palm tree and man riding a camel.
The pope admired the statue but merely touched the sword.
Benedict sparked anger in the Muslim world in 2006 when he delivered a speech linking Islam to violence.
He said he was misunderstood and regretted offending Muslims. Since then, he has met a number of Islamic leaders and a year ago visited predominantly Muslim Turkey.
The Vatican has said it wants to pursue a dialogue with moderate Muslims.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted November 6, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Normally talking is better than not talking. I sure hope they make some progress on the Israel-Palestine thing; a fair solution to that problem would take a real weight off the whole world.
posted November 6, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Who do you root for in that discussion? One of the participants is an anti-modern, gay-bashing, woman-hating autocrat and the other is the leader of Saudi Arabia. It’s a quandry.
posted November 6, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Admittedly they could end up with things that would be bad for most of us, and feel good about it, but I’ll hope they don’t.
posted November 6, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Perhaps they met because of needing a ‘Gentlemans Understanding’, that they each exist and acknowledge this to themselves; that they are completely different in beliefs, in customs, in values, but part of the human landscape, so will try to entertain a friendship and dialogue about their differences. Much better than a war.
posted November 6, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Much better than a war!
posted November 6, 2007 at 11:26 pm
This is surely better than war. But I bet both parties turned and quietly counted their fingers after the final handshake. My “Spidey” sense is tingling, but I am not sure why.
posted November 8, 2007 at 9:07 am
I dont know….maybe a good fight would do the earth good…kind of clear the air…the two of them should step into the ring with all their finery of turbins, gowns, capes, and rings and things and try to kick the hell right out of each other…much more interesting and people would watch that….I think.
posted November 8, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Would have liked to be a fly on the wall for that meeting! It would have been interesting. Talking is better than war,as previously mentioned and if religions can at least talk and TRY to understand each other, is good. Benny isn’t exactly known for finding other religions the “right one” since he is in charge of the “only true church” on earth! In his opinion, at least.
posted November 8, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Welcome back, pagansister!! I am glad you found your way. I got lost in the changes for a while, but Henrietta and B’net Tiger helped me get my bearings again.
posted November 8, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Thanks, jestrfyl! Glad to be back.
Vacations are fun, but I did miss my “chats” with you all.
Have you filled out a profile on the community boards?
Guess I could look! but thought I’d ask.
posted November 11, 2007 at 12:24 am
pagansister,
I needed B’net Tiger’s help, but I am one of the community now (Ooo that sounds kind of ominous). I’ll be working on the profile (as well as full frontal) now and then. I saw yours in th elist. Anyone else making the leap? Maybe we need to reconvene our 5/3 Church of P (I have to look up the name).
posted November 11, 2007 at 9:37 pm
jestrfyl:
Glad you have joined the “community” and yes, it does sound kind of ominous. Looking forward to your profile. Hope others will/have joined. Nightlad is there, and he is on my “friends” list. He asked me if I’d be on his, thus putting him on mine. I’m trying to figure out how to ask someone to be on mine. This gives email communication between members, outside of the posting, thru B’net.
Our little organization was the “Fifth Third Prodrastination Church of Peculiars”. (I cheated, and wrote it on paper, as I’d lose it in the computer!)