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Coptic Pope Tawadros II joined Catholic Pope Francis in the Vatican for a six-day visit
that began on May 10th. Pope Tawadros was only the second Coptic Pope to set foot in
the Vatican. Both men prayed for reconciliation between Egyptian Christians and Muslims. Neither
Pope mentioned the recent sectarian violence in Egypt between Muslims, who are in the majority,
and Christians, who only make up about 15 percent of the nation's population.
Tensions between the two religious groups have been on the rise since President Hosni
Mubarak was overthrown in 2011. People of both faiths demonstrated for the President's
removal, but Christians feel that they are still being treated unfairly. They complain
about job discrimination and want changes made to existing laws that make it harder
for Christians to build churches than it is for Muslims to build Mosques.
According to Reuters, Tawadros says that Christians feel neglected by authorities, who are led
by members of the Muslim Brotherhood. "There is a sense of marginalization and rejection,
which we can call social isolation," Tawadros said.
While the Coptic Pope was visiting Pope Francis, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was living out
his retirement in a convent in the Vatican gardens, making this the first time that three
Popes have been inside Vatican walls at the same time
The Women of the Wall have been holding monthly prayer services at the Western Wall in Jerusalem
for more than 20 years while wearing prayer shawls and skull caps as men traditionally
do. According to ultra-Orthodox leaders, this is a violation of local custom. In the past,
many in the womens group have been attacked by protesters and arrested by police.
That was before a recent court ruling that the women were not violating any laws. On
Friday, May 10th, Israeli police formed human chains and used metal barriers to protect
the Women of the Wall from ultra-Orthodox protesters. Some rabbis called on their followers
to block the women from reaching the Western Wall, but they still made it through. The
police arrested three men for disorderly conduct while the women prayed.
After the services were completed, police escorted the Women of the Wall onto buses,
which were pelted with stones. Shira Pruce, a 31-year-old from New Jersey and a spokeswoman
for the Women of the Wall, said this was an "historic moment" and that the "police did
an amazing job protecting women to pray freely at the Western Wall. This," she added, "is
justice."
Intense fighting continues between Sunnis and ***'ites in Syria. The latest incident
involves the desecration of a holy shrine near Damascus. Rebel Sunni forces attacked
the Hojr Ibn Oday shrine said to contain the head of John the Baptist and other notable
member of religious history. Reports indicate the remains of another 7th century figure
were dug up and taken away.
As the sectarian violence escalates, it seems neither side can convince the other that they
are actually both on the same side being Muslim. Yet the killing and destruction continues
in defense of Allah.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar said to the Iranian press that "Such acts could ignite
the fire of religious rifts among followers of the divine religions". Syria's conflict
has now lasted over two years and there is no end in sight. ***'ite leaders in Iran recently
called for respect of holy sites. However, Sunnis feel that the ***'ites are apostates
and that their shrines are un-Islamic.
Of course, ***'ites have a different opinion. These basic differences have grown in intensity
over time. The increased tensions are responsible for the destruction or major damage to many
shrines and historical places in the region.
Some may recall the market in Aleppo's Old City, which was a UNESCO World Heritage Site
being burned to the ground. Other sites in Palmyra have also been heavily damaged, including
several 2,000 year old Roman structures. The undeniable fact that these two factions follow
the same core religion yet cannot agree on their basic theology should be considered
by the faithful.