Pope urges communities to reject prejudice

POPE Benedict XVI greeted tens of thousands of adoring followers in Jesus’ childhood hometown with a message of reconciliation yesterday, urging Christians and Muslims to overcome recent strife and “reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice”.

The Pope delivered his message on the fourth day of a Holy Land pilgrimage meant to promote peace and unity in the Middle East. Throughout the trip, however, he has been confronted with the region’s most sensitive issues, including the legacy of the Holocaust, the Palestinian plight under Israeli occupation and fragile interfaith ties.

At mid-afternoon yesterday, the Pope sat down for a highly anticipated meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.