Israel and Jewish World Mourn Pope

Israeli religious and political leaders praised Pope John Paul II on Sunday as a principled leader whose leadership helped bring Jews and Catholics together and recalled his visit to the Jewish state in 2000. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he had once met with the pope, who told him that "the Land of Israel is holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims but was promised only to the Jews." Former Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau said, "With the exception of John XXIII, there has never been as pro-Jewish a pope as John Paul II."

Israel and Jewish World Mourn Pope and Sharon Pays Tribute to Pope John Paul II as "Friend of the Jewish People"