Pope calls on Christians and Jews to work together for peace

Pope Benedict XVI today called on Christians and Jews to respect each other and work together for world peace.

The pope has been reaching out to Jews, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, the late John Paul II.

Benedict visited a synagogue in Cologne, Germany, during his first trip abroad in 2005.

“I invite all to insistently invoke the Lord so that Christians and Jews respect each other, appreciate each other and cooperate for justice and peace in the world,” Benedict told thousands of faithful during his weekly general audience at the Vatican.

Also today, the chief rabbi of Israel appealed to the international community and the United Nations to “do everything to avert the threat against my people and my country.”

Yona Metzger, speaking at a conference on Judaism and inter-religious dialogue in Rome, said his country is being threatened by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map.

“To remain inert before Iran today is a grave sin,” Metzger said.