Roudy
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- Mar 16, 2012
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One of the biggest historic victories for Israel during this papal visit was the Pope's endorsement of Zionism by his visit to Herzl's Tomb and paying respect and tribute to it.
"A day after he threw his moral weight behind the establishment of a Palestinian state, Pope Francis paid tribute Monday at the grave of Theodor Herzl, the man whose dream of a Jewish homeland led to the creation of modern-day Israel.
It was a finely balanced gesture on the last day of the pontiffÂ’s visit to the Holy Land, where even the smallest acts are fraught with political symbolism. The wreath-laying here in Jerusalem also sought to wipe away bitter memories of a previous popeÂ’s rejection of Zionism more than a century ago.
Francis bowed his head and, following Jewish tradition, laid a stone on HerzlÂ’s grave as Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood silently to one side.
The move is likely to annoy many Palestinians, who blame Zionism for the confiscation and occupation of their ancestral lands.
In another display of the delicate political juggling act that the Holy See has had to manage, Francis also accepted NetanyahuÂ’s suggestion of an unscheduled visit Monday morning to a memorial to victims of terrorism."
Pope Francis balances visits to Jewish, Muslim sites in Jerusalem*-*Los Angeles Times
"A day after he threw his moral weight behind the establishment of a Palestinian state, Pope Francis paid tribute Monday at the grave of Theodor Herzl, the man whose dream of a Jewish homeland led to the creation of modern-day Israel.
It was a finely balanced gesture on the last day of the pontiffÂ’s visit to the Holy Land, where even the smallest acts are fraught with political symbolism. The wreath-laying here in Jerusalem also sought to wipe away bitter memories of a previous popeÂ’s rejection of Zionism more than a century ago.
Francis bowed his head and, following Jewish tradition, laid a stone on HerzlÂ’s grave as Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood silently to one side.
The move is likely to annoy many Palestinians, who blame Zionism for the confiscation and occupation of their ancestral lands.
In another display of the delicate political juggling act that the Holy See has had to manage, Francis also accepted NetanyahuÂ’s suggestion of an unscheduled visit Monday morning to a memorial to victims of terrorism."
Pope Francis balances visits to Jewish, Muslim sites in Jerusalem*-*Los Angeles Times
