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"Mr. President, the Holy See supports the right of your people
to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your
forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbors, within
internationally recognized borders," the pontiff said upon his
arrival, standing alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.


      It was the third day of Benedict's Holy Land pilgrimage meant
largely to boost interfaith relations. But so far, it has been
fraught with political land mines. Israelis have criticized the
German-born pope for failing to adequately express remorse for the
Holocaust, while the Palestinians are pressing him to draw
attention to the difficult conditions of life under Israeli rule.


      The pope also called for a Palestinian homeland when he arrived
in Israel on Monday for the five-day visit. Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the audience, says Palestinians are
not ready to rule themselves and he has resisted international
pressure to endorse the idea of a Palestinian state alongside
Israel.

      In Bethlehem, Benedict delivered a special message of solidarity
to the 1.4 million Palestinians isolated in the Hamas-ruled Gaza
Strip. He has no plans to visit Gaza.

      Israel recently waged a three-week war against Gaza militants
that killed more than 1,000 people and badly damaged thousands of
homes. The war compounded suffering already caused by an Israel and
Egyptian blockade of Gaza's borders since Hamas wrested control of
Gaza two years ago.

      "In a special way, my heart goes out to the pilgrims from
war-torn Gaza: I ask you to bring back to your families and your
communities my warm embrace, and my sorrow for the loss, the
hardship and the suffering you have had to endure," the pope told
thousands of Palestinians who packed an open-air Mass in Manger
Square, some hoisting Palestinian and Vatican flags and pictures of
the pontiff and Jesus.


      "Please be assured of my solidarity with you in the immense
work of rebuilding which now lies ahead, and my prayers that the
embargo will soon be lifted," he added.

      In a gesture for the pope's visit, Israel allowed nearly 100
members of Gaza's tiny Christian community to travel to the West
Bank through Israeli territory that separates the two Palestinian
areas.


      Benedict's singling out of Gaza "means that Gaza is in the
pope's heart," said George Hernandz, bishop of the Holy Family
Catholic church in Gaza City. "This a very courageous speech and
we are satisfied."


      The pope, who has described himself as a "pilgrim of peace,"
has been forced to navigate some of the touchiest political issues
as he makes his way through Israel and the West Bank - his first
visit to the region as the head of the Roman Catholic church.

      On Tuesday, the Vatican rallied to his defense, describing him
as man of strong anti-Nazi credentials and a peacemaker after
critics said he failed to apologize in a speech at Israel's
Holocaust memorial for what they see as Catholic indifference
during the Nazi genocide.


      The Palestinians want the pontiff to put pressure on Israel
during his visit. Before he arrived, Bethlehem residents expressed
hope that he would use his moral authority to support their quest
for independence.

      "Our pope is our hope" read posters hung around the town,
which was also dotted with the yellow and cream flags of the
Vatican and red, black, white and green Palestinian flags.

      While Benedict acknowledged Palestinian difficulties, he stopped
short of blaming Israel.

      "I know how much you have suffered and continue to suffer as a
result of the turmoil that has afflicted this land for decades,"
he said.

      Abbas invoked the concrete separation barrier and the occupation
in his greeting to the pontiff.

      "In this Holy Land, the occupation still continues building
separation walls," Abbas said. "Instead of building the bridge
that can link us, they are using the force of occupation to force
Muslims and Christians to emigrate."


      He and other Palestinian dignitaries later donned baseball caps
imprinted with the black-and-white kaffiyeh headscarf, a symbol of
Palestinian nationalism.

      Israel says it has been building the barrier of concrete slabs
and electronic fences, which stretches for hundreds of miles
(kilometers) along the frontier with the West Bank, to keep out
Palestinian militants. Attacks have fallen off sharply, but
Palestinians see the barrier as a land grab because it juts into
the West Bank at multiple points, placing about 10 percent of the
territory on the "Israeli" side.

      Christians are a tiny minority among the 3.9 million
Palestinians who live in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In a trend
seen throughout the Middle East, their numbers have dwindled as
Palestinians weary of occupation seek out new opportunities abroad.

      "When he comes and visits us, it gives us moral and material
support," said Ramzi Shomali, a 27-year-old electric company
worker. "It motivates us to stay in our land, and he will see our
situation and will use his power for our good."

      Victor Batarseh, Bethlehem's Christian mayor, said he hoped the
papal mission would "encourage Palestinian Christians to be
steadfast on their land and encourage them to stay."

      The pontiff brought several gifts to Bethlehem, including a
ventilator for a baby hospital and a mosaic representation of the
birth of Jesus. He received a handwritten Gospel of Luke.

      After meeting with Abbas, Benedict was to tour the Church of the
Nativity, built over the grotto where tradition holds Jesus was
born, then visit a Palestinian refugee camp.

Gallery

Politics and Government News

Religion and Faith

Standing in the cradle of
Christianity, Pope Benedict XVI told Palestinians on Wednesday that
he understands their suffering and offered his strongest public
backing yet for an independent Palestinian state.

Pope in Bethlehem endorses independent Palestinian state

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