The Kingdom of the Pope/ Is it of This World? A Look at the Pope's Visit to Israel

On the 11th of May, the Pope arrived in Israel for an official visit. This trip, always a delicate diplomatic affair, was followed very attentively by all the world.

Spiegel Online talked about a very slippery tour of the Holy Land, where the pope will visit the Wailing Wall and the Holocaust Memorial Jat va schem. In the past, Benedict XVI has managed to infuriate not only the Jews, but the Muslims as well.

 The German newspaper “DIE ZEIT” wrote on May 7, 2009, in an article entitled: “Papal Visit: Sitting on the Delicate Chair of Peter,” that this was a difficult mission to the Holy Land: “Benedict XVI’s visit to Israel places the future of his pontificate on the line.”

 Ulrich W. Sahm from haGalil wrote about diplomatic reprobation’s between Israel and the Vatican. It dealt with such questions as who would hold a speech when and where, and in what place such meetings would take place. The mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, for example, invited the Papal delegation to a “Magical Evening in Jerusalem.” But since the event was scheduled to take place in the Eastern part of the city, which Israel first took over in 1967, and since the Vatican does not recognize Jewish sovereignty over Eastern Jerusalem, the Vatican allegedly required that at the reception, the mayor abstain from giving a speech. The answer to the Vatican was clear and to the point: The mayor will give a speech. May whoever comes to the reception, come. In any case, the ceremony would take place.

 The newspapers in Israel reported about the Papal visit in unfriendly tones and caustic comments. “Un-POP-ular” was the title of an article by Jedijot Achronot on the impending visit of the German “blessed” Benedict, who was once a young soldier in the armed forces under Hitler.

A well-known Holocaust survivor, Noah Kliger, remembered a speech made by Joseph Ratzinger at Auschwitz in January 2009. Kliger closed his comments with “mixed feelings” and stating: “As we know, God’s ways are not known to us, whether Jews or Christians. This apparently holds true for the ways of God’s representative on Earth.”

 In the face of such a mood in the country, Israel’s secret service mobilized a gigantic security action for the “white robe.” A police force of 80.000 strong, including agents, participated in this measure. It was the greatest security action ever undertaken in the history of Israel.

 When Jesus of Nazareth entered Jerusalem about 2000 years ago, he rode on a donkey, likely accompanied by 12 disarmed companions. What does Benedict XVI fear so? Does he have a bad conscience? Because otherwise, he could travel far more modestly to Jerusalem, having such a good role model.

 Perhaps it has something to do with his controversial statements on the condom, which brought quite disagreeable reactions for him. In Holland, for example, a popular television tribunal indicted him, declaring him responsible for the deaths of millions of AID victims.

 The Pope lets himself be protected by a police force of 80.000 strong. Why doesn’t he trust in God, when he is His representative on Earth?! During His life, Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.”

 We can read this quite precisely in the Bible of the Pope: “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36).

 So if the Pope needs a security force of 80.000, you could wonder whether the Kingdom of the Pope isn’t rather of this world …

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