Squabble between Muslim and Jew over lunch with the Pope who calms them down !!!

What happens when a Rabbi, a Muslim, and a Pope meet for lunch? Where fireworks it appears.

I was over at the Ratzinger forum trying to find the full translation of the Pope's Angelus so I could post it as I always do(Still looking). I came across this incredible story that is being reported in the Italian papers. Sorry the Vatican has released no pictures :).

The Ratizinger Forum reports here:
Squabble between Muslim and Jew over lunch with the Pope who calms them down
By LUIGI ACCATTOLI NAPLES -
There were nine guests seated with Pope Benedict XVI at lunch yesterday in the Archdiocesan Seminary of Naples in Capodimonte. They represented the major Christian churches, as well as Muslims and Jews, participating in the current World Inter-Religious Encounter for Peace which opened yesterday in Naples, undewr the auspices of the Sant'Egidio Community.

But there was a sensitive moment promptly resolved by the Pope to calm down a potential dispute among a rabbi, a Lebanese Christian and a Muslim from the United Arab Emirates [who happens to be one of the 138 signatories in the recent open letter sent to the Pope and other Christian leaders].

Once again, the theologian Pope, 80, showed himself not only physically agile and brisk as he moves from one event to another, but also in his mental reflexes. Protagonists of the squabble were the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger; the Muslim Ezzedin Ibrahim, whose formal title is cultural adviser to the president of the UAR; and the Lebanese Aram I, Catholikos of Cilicia of the Armenians.

In short, representatives of the three monotheisms involved in the masters of war and peace in the Middle East. The dispute apparently started from a remark Ezzedin, a Sufi Muslim [a mystical sect] and veteran of previous Sant'Egidio meetings, that they were at 'the table of smiles' at which the various faiths could vie to proclaim 'words of peace' from their respective religious patrimonies. And that peaceful coexistence on the planet - conforming to the visionary genius of John Paul II - was a dream that was daily becoming more concrete and near realization.

Aram I agreed, saying he himself was inspired by the most sublime ideals of peace, but he could not fail to point out the 'grave danger' that his 'brothers in the faith' continue to live daily in Lebanon, especially because of military incursions from Israel. Which caused Rabbi Metzger to spring up - so to speak, because everyone, of course, remained seated and conversing with each other respectfully in English.

Metzger addressed his 'brother' Aram to say that he too 'could not keep silent' about the daily danger that Israel faced from a bellicose Iran, whose president has repeatedly threatened to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth. [An ANSA report quotes Metzger as saying: "Even in my land, my peoople are at risk daily. But if fear should make us keep silent in the face of states like Iran who want to destroy other states, then that is not good. We should have the courage to oppose."]

Metzger tempered his remarks by observing that "Yes, fortunately, we are at the table of smiles," as 'our Muslim brother' has said, but beyond this table, there is little to smile about in the world situation, with 'problems heaped on problems', among which was 'the violence of so many Muslims.' He continued that even in Lebanon, there were "Muslim combatants who will do anything" including suicide bombings to attack Israel.

Both the Muslim and the Lebanese appeared ready to dispute him, but the Pope spoke up before they could to remark, "Well, this is all work for Sant'Egidio." The rest of the table took the cue and shifted the conversation to praising the Sant'Egidio Community for its peace mission. Ezzedin said yes, indeed, the community was 'a true angel of peace' and the rabbi agreed with him. The other guests at the table were Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (attending his first World Encounter for Peace; the secretary-general of the Geneva-based Ecumenical Council of Churches, Samuel Kobia; Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos II; the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams; Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Sant'Egidio Community; and Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples. Because the luncheon was in honor of the religious leaders, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi was seated at another table which was presided vover by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Corriere della sera, 22 ottobre 2007 .