SÃO PAULO, Brazil, MAY 11, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI met with various religious leaders in São Paolo in a meeting the Vatican described as fraternal.
According to Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, "It was a meeting characterized by brotherhood and a show of welcome on the part of the representatives of various Christian denominations."
"There were no speeches, nor were certain themes discussed. It was a demonstration of reciprocal fraternity," the Vatican spokesman observed.
Rabbi Henry Sobel, 63, of the Israeli Pauline Congregation, said after the meeting that "the Pope is a friend of the Jewish people."
"As I leave this meeting, I feel happy and uplifted. In the end, it's not everyday that a rabbi receives a blessing from a Pope," he said.
Rabbi Sobel said that "with the utmost humility" he asked for and received a blessing. "I also asked the Pope for permission to bless him and was permitted," he added.
Among the religious leaders present were representatives of the National Council of Christian Churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Antioch Orthodox Church, the Apostolic Armenian Church, the Anglican Church, the United Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Christian Church and the Islamic community.
Code: ZE07051102
Date: 2007-05-11