Pope Brings With Him Hopes of Reconciliation...

The Pope's visit has created quite a stir in the United States. One of the things that jumped out at me was reading that the Pope intends to visit a synagogue in New York City (who will become one of the only three popes to visit a synagogue). Despite his blunders earlier regarding people of various faiths (i.e. Muslim and Jews), this visit surely represents a turning point in inter-faith dialogue. Though sometimes verbally undiplomatic, perhaps this visit will result in long-term relations between the two communities dedicated to discussing issues of the Holocaust and other important "ghosts" that remain an obstacle in developing inter-faith trust and communication. Despite earlier efforts to bridge the Catholic and Jewish faith, recently the progress has come to a standstill due to several measures passed by the pontiff. Hopefully, this visit will mark a new beginning for both faiths.