Vatican spokesman condemns Islamic leader’s tirade against Israel

May 12, 2009

Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, condemned remarks made by Sheikh Tayssir Attamimi at a Jerusalem interreligious meeting in which Pope Benedict participated.

“The intervention of Sheikh Tayssir Attamimi was not scheduled by the organizers of the meeting,” said Father Lombardi. “In a meeting dedicated to dialogue this intervention was a direct negation of what a dialogue should be. We hope that such an incident will not damage the mission of the Pope aiming at promoting peace and also interreligious dialogue, as he has clearly affirmed in many occasions during this pilgrimage. We hope also that interreligious dialogue in the Holy Land will not be compromised by this incident.”

 

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Further information:

• Vatican Press Office Statement regarding unscheduled Remarks by Sheikh Tayssir Attamimi during the Inter-religious Meeting at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Centre (Vatican Radio)
• Pope’s inter-religious meeting marred by Islamic leader’s tirade against Israel (CWN, May 11)