” “"This meeting will give out an important message. It will tell the Islam countries that this Pope is on the side of peace, that he is walking in the wake of John Paul II, who has done so much to prevent the Iraqi war. It will tell the Muslims of the Arab countries that Christianity and the Church are and work for the Gospel of Peace". This was said by mgr. Heinrich Mussinghoff, bishop of Aachen and Deputy President of the German Bishops Conference, who this morning at a press conference commented on the meetings that during his stay in Cologne Pope Benedict XVI will have with Evangelical, Jewish and Muslim leaders. The first meeting will take place tomorrow at 12, in the Synagogue of Cologne, with the Jewish community. "A meeting said mgr. Mussinghoff taking place at a difficult time", also due to a few diplomatic misunderstandings between the Holy See and Israel. "John Paul II dotted his pontificate with many signs of friendships for the Jewish people, now the Jewish are trying to understand whether the new Pope will do the same". With the representatives of the Evangelical Churches, the meeting (due on Saturday 20th at 6 pm, in the archbishop’s palace) also promises to be "difficult, due above all to the publication of the "Dominus Iesus", which did not met favour with the Evangelical Churches. But all Evangelical leaders added the bishop agreed in saying this Pope is an excellent theologian and his seriousness is expected to boost the Churches to move towards unity".
