Syria Extends Official Invitation To Pope

DAMASCUS, Mar. 19, 01 (CWNews.com) - The Syrian government extended its official invitation on Saturday for Pope John Paul II to visit the country in May.

Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara handed the invitation to Vatican envoy Cardinal Roberto Lucci, they said. "Mr. Shara handed an invitation from President Bashar al-Assad to his Holiness Pope John Paul to visit Syria in May," an official said. The visit had already been announced for May 5-9.

The Holy Father will be the first pope to enter a mosque when he visits the Omayyad mosque in Damascus. The Pope will make a speech, but will not pray in the mosque. Bishop Izdor Battikha said last week that the Pope would have "a quick silent glance at the tomb of John the Baptist (known to Muslims as prophet Yahya) located inside the mosque."

Catholic World News Service - Daily News Briefs
19. mars 2001