- Title: SYRIA: Christians head to Jordan to attend Pope's Mass in Amman
- Date: 11th May 2009
- Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (MAY 10, 2009) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF SYRIAN CHRISTIANS GATHERING IN FRONT OF CHURCH FOR TRIP TO SEE POPE IN AMMAN PEOPLE ARRIVING AT CHURCH IN CAR MORE OF PEOPLE GATHERING IN FRONT OF CHURCH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAMIR MIKHAI'L, A CHRISTIAN AND A DENTIST, SAYING: "We are so happy to go to Jordan. If the Pope went to Mars we would follow him.
- Embargoed: 26th May 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA4W243O2LYB3X9FLIAL2JPABTD
- Story Text: Roman Catholics in Syria organised a one-day trip to Jordan on Sunday (May 10) to attend a Mass with Pope Benedict.
The Pope arrived in Jordan on Friday (May 8) on the first leg of a tour that will include Israel and the Palestinian territories.
"We are so happy to go to Jordan. If the Pope went to Mars we would follow him. The pilgrimage means a lot to us. We were hoping to see him in Syria but if the visit started from Jordan and ended in Jerusalem, we will follow him wherever he goes", Samir Mikhai'l, a dentist, told Reuters before heading to Amman.
George Betinjaneh, a businessman, said: "We are going to Jordan to see him today and to pray for peace in the world."
Jordanian Islamist leaders on Thursday condemned Pope Benedict's visit to the Middle East, saying it was provocative because he has not apologised for comments made in 2006 implying Islam was violent and irrational. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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