Pope Visits With Leaders of Other U.S. Religions

Yesterday evening, Pope Benedict XVI met with Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist religious leaders in Washington, DC. The Washington Times reports that the religious leaders as a group presented the Pope with gifts, and then split off for separate meetings with him. In his remarks to the group of leaders (full text), Benedict emphasized the importance of religious freedom and interreligious dialogue. In separate remarks to Jewish leaders (full text), the Pope extended special greetings for the festival of Passover that begins tonight. Today in New York, the Pope is scheduled to visit Manhattan's Park East Synagogue. ABC News reports that Benedict, who as a German teenager was required to join the Hitler Youth, will shake hands at the synagogue with Holocaust survivor Rabbi Arthur Schneier.