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Pope set for historic mosque visit

Pope arrives in Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Pope John Paul is set to become the first Pontiff to enter a mosque in Islam's 1,400-year history, moving Christian-Muslim relations onto a new level of coexistence.

On Sunday -- the second day of a pilgrimage to Syria to trace the steps of St Paul the apostle --the frail 80-year-old Pope is also expected to promote messages of inter-faith unity and Middle East peace during a mass for Syria's various Christian sects at a sports stadium in Damascus.

Tens of thousands of the Christian faithful are expected to attend the mass at Abbassiyeen Stadium in the heart of the capital.

VIDEO CNN's Brent Sadler reports on John Paul II's visit to Syria (May 5) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Jim Bittermann reports on the significance of the pope's visit to Greece (May 4) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Rula Amin reports on the pope's trip to build relations between Christians and Muslims Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO CNN's Brent Sadler: Syrian relations with Lebanon 970K/89 secs. AIFF or WAV sound     IN-DEPTH Mideast struggle for peace     COUNTRY PROFILE At a glance: Syria Provided by CountryWatch.com     GALLERY Pope John Paul II's visit to Greece     ALSO Highlights of the pope's visit to Syria Pope moves to heal ancient rift Arafat calls for summit to discuss Mitchell report

A few hours after the mass, the Pope will make history when he recites a joint invocation -- not a prayer -- with Muslim clerics at the ancient Umayyad Mosque in Old City of Damascus.

The Pope began the historic pilgrimage to Syria on Saturday with an emotional plea to Israel and its Arab neighbours to reach out for peace in the troubled Middle East.

The Pope said he hoped that in the region, "fear will turn into trust and contempt to mutual esteem, that force will give way to dialogue, and that a genuine desire to serve the common good will prevail."

He later had a 20-minute private audience with President Bashar al-Assad at the presidential palace in which the Syrian leader spoke about the history of religions in Syria.

The Syrian state news agency Sana quoted the Pope as telling Assad: "Syria remains young in history and today it is led by a young man. That is why everyone expects a lot from her."

The Pope then shared his first prayers in Syria with Greek Orthodox bishops at the ancient Byzantine Mariyamiya church, where he received a tumultuous welcome from an enthusiatic crowd in festive mood -- in sharp contrast to the muted reception he received on his controversial visit to mainly Orthodox Greece.

On Monday he is due to travel to the demolished town of Quneitra, which Israel returned in 1974 after capturing it from Syria along with the rest of the Golan Heights in the Six Day War of 1967.

John Paul II is the first Pontiff to visit the mainly Muslim country.

CNN's Brent Sadler said the president's presence, with a 21-gun salute in the background, showed the importance that was being attached to the visit, which is set against a background of increased tension in the region.

Millions has been spent to ensure the visit's success with roads and footpaths paved, and litter and graffiti removed from places the Pope plans to visit.

Syria is where Saint Paul converted to Christianity on the road to Damascus and today there are about two million Christians in the nation of 17 million.

In Greece, on the first stop of his tour, John Paul II sought to heal an ancient rift with a joint statement with Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos, saying: "We condemn all recourse to violence, proselytism and fanaticism in the name of religion."

This followed an earlier appeal for God to forgive sins of "actions and omission" by Catholics against Orthodox believers during the 1,000 year split between the two traditions.

Pope appeals for Mideast peace
May 5, 2001
Pope moves to heal ancient rift
May 4, 2001
Papal visit sparks Greek protests
May 4, 2001
Pope begins controversial tour
May 3, 2001

Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch
Greek Orthodox Church
Vatican
Roman Catholic Church in Greece

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