Unite for peace and justice - pope

Pope Francis (centre) meets with the Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein (left), and Abdul Azeem Salhab, Head of the Waqef supreme court, near the Dome of the Rock Mosque, in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, prior to a visit to the Western Wall, in Jerusalem. Picture: Ariel Schalit

Pope Francis (centre) meets with the Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Ahmad Hussein (left), and Abdul Azeem Salhab, Head of the Waqef supreme court, near the Dome of the Rock Mosque, in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, prior to a visit to the Western Wall, in Jerusalem. Picture: Ariel Schalit

Published May 26, 2014

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Jerusalem -

Pope Francis called on Monday for Christians, Jews and Muslims to “work together” for justice and peace on a visit to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam.

“May we work together for justice and peace,” he said at the sprawling plaza, which is also considered sacred by Jews because it was the site where their two Jewish Temples once stood.

As he toured the compound accompanied by the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Mohammed Hussein, he was surrounded by a large crowd of Catholic and Muslim officials, as Vatican security guards and Israeli police looked on.

Entering the exquisite blue-tiled Dome of the Rock with its landmark golden cupola, which is used as a place of worship for women only, the pope first removed his shoes.

He then walked down towards the smaller, silver-domed Al-Aqsa mosque - Arabic for the “furthest mosque” - which is considered the third holiest shrine within Islam because it is the site where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven.

Located at the south-eastern edge of the Old City, the compound is known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif or the Noble Sanctuary, and to Jews as the Temple Mount.

For Jews, it is the holiest site in Judaism but they are forbidden by law to pray there, praying instead at the adjacent Western Wall, the last remnant of the retaining wall that supported the second Temple complex.

It is currently the holiest site at which Jews can pray and was also to be visited by the pope immediately after his tour of Al-Aqsa. - Sapa-AFP

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