At audience, pope calls for prayers for peace in Jerusalem

Published: 2005-10-12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI called for prayers for peace in Jerusalem, asking that it become a meeting place free of discord. During his general audience in St. Peter's Square Oct. 12, the pope ended his catechesis on a psalm that prays for peace in ancient Jerusalem by asking for prayers for that city today. "We also want to pray for the city of Jerusalem that it may be ever more a meeting place of religions and peoples and really a place of peace," the pope said. In his reflections on Psalm 122, the pope said the Hebrew word "shalom" or "peace" was traditionally considered to be the root word of the holy city's name, "Jerushalajim," "interpreted as 'the city of peace.'" Jerusalem was not only a seat of government, it was also "the highest judicial seat" of the house of David, he said. Jewish pilgrims would head to the city in order to settle any controversy and return home "more just and peaceful," said the pope.

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