BREAKING: Pope Benedict walks out on unplanned speech...

From The Telegraph by Damian Thompson:

Chief Islamic Judge of the Palestinian Authority, Sheikh Tayseer Rajab Tamimi, launched a poisonous verbal attack at Israel at a Monday night gathering attended by Pope Benedict XVI.

In a meeting with organizations involved in inter-religious dialogue at the Notre Dame Jerusalem Center, Tamimi called upon Muslims and Christians to unite against what he said were the murderous Israelis.

Taking the podium after the pope without being on the original list of speakers scheduled for the evening, Tamimi, speaking at length in Arabic, accused Israel of murdering women and children in Gaza and making Palestinians refugees, and declared Jerusalem the eternal Palestinian capital.

Following the diatribe and before the meeting was officially over, the pope exited the premises. Army Radio reported that the pope shook Tamimi's hand before walking out.

Thompson comments on the above article from the Jerusalem Post:

The Vatican press officer, Fr Federico Lombardi, later said: "In a meeting dedicated to dialogue, this intervention was a direct negation of what [it] should be," and added that he hoped the incident would not damage the Pope's mission to the Holy Land.

I don't think it should. In fact, I reckon the Holy Father responded appropriately. He didn't precipitate a diplomatic incident by refusing to shake the speaker's hand, but by leaving before the meeting was over he made it absolutely plain that the Vatican does not take sides in the Israel-Palestine dispute.

It is just this sort of poisonous mud-slinging and diatribe that keeps peace from being a reality. The fact that the Holy Father acted so gracefully in this situation is a testament to his Christian faith. Goodness knows I wouldn't have been so cool headed! God bless you Papa Ben!

Let us keep Pope Benedict in our prayers as he continues his journey throughout the Holy Land.

Excellent coverage can be found HERE.

Hat tip to the American Papist.