Pope says mass in Nazareth, to meet Netanyahu
Tens of thousands arrive in Nazareth's Mount Precipice to hear mass by Pope Benedict XVI, who urges Muslims, Christians in the city to mend ties and 'reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice'. Pope to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later Thursday
Tens of thousands of the faithful turned out in the town of Jesus's boyhood on Thursday when Pope Benedict took his Holy Land pilgrimage to the heartland of Israel's minority Arab population.
The German-born pontiff was to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day in Nazareth.
More than 40,000 people attended the outdoor mass - celebrated in Arabic, English and Latin - in the area of Nazareth known as Mount Precipice, where the bible says a mob tried to hurl Jesus off a cliff.
Pope at Mount Precipice Thursday (Photo: George Ginsburg)
"This is our first time in the Holy Land. We accompany the pope everywhere – but to be here with him is a once in a lifetime experience," said John of Portugal, who came with a group of 180.
Thousands flocked from Nazareth, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and many European countries.
Michael from Nazareth said, "Even my five-year-old daughter insisted on coming. We woke up at 3 am and came here. This is a historic event – a great joy for us all."
During his speech, the pope welcomed the worshippers and dedicated much of his mass to the role of women and the importance of family life.
He also addressed recent tensions between Muslims and Christian in the city and urged them to "reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice".
Waving Vatican flag in Nazareth (Photo: George Ginsburg)
"I urge people of good will in both communities to repair the damage that has been done, and in fidelity to our common belief in one God, the Father of the human family, to work to build bridges and find the way to a peaceful coexistence," he said.
"Let everyone reject the destructive power of hatred and prejudice, which kills men's souls before it kills their bodies," he added.
Benedict also spoke of "the sacredness of the family, which in God's plan is based on the lifelong fidelity of a man and a woman consecrated by the marriage covenant and accepting of God's gift of new life".
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The pope also will visit the Church of the Annunciation, the site where Christians believe the angel Gabriel told the Virgin Mary she would give birth to the son of God.
He completes his pilgrimage in Jerusalem on Friday with a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and the tomb where he was buried.
Magen David Adom crews treated some 30 people injured during mass in Nazareth.
Those injured suffered from dehydration, faintness and shortness of breath. Some 40,000 people attended the mass.
Reuters contributed to this report
