Pope Benedict visited a Jewish Synagogue and a German-founded parish on Friday (April 18) during the first day of his visit to New York City.
The leader of the Catholic church met with Jewish community leaders at the Park East Synagogue on Manhattan's East Side in acknowledgement of the Passover festival, which began on Friday evening.
After being presented with a ceremonial plate, the pope thanked the congregation for their support of inter-faith relations.
Outside the synagogue tho Read more

Pope Benedict visited a Jewish Synagogue and a German-founded parish on Friday (April 18) during the first day of his visit to New York City.
The leader of the Catholic church met with Jewish community leaders at the Park East Synagogue on Manhattan's East Side in acknowledgement of the Passover festival, which began on Friday evening.
After being presented with a ceremonial plate, the pope thanked the congregation for their support of inter-faith relations.
Outside the synagogue those who attended the service described it as a moving and historic occasion.

"I'm glad I brought a package of tissues is all I can say, it was actually one of the most moving moments I've had in a very long time, maybe in my life," said artist Amy Glaswand.

"In New York Jews and Catholics get along very well but that hasn't always been the case throughout history so it's nice to have the pope reaching out to the Jewish community," said Chuck Lesnick, city council president for the town of Yonkers, New York.
The visit on the eve of Passover, the holy day marking the exodus from Egypt, was only the third by a pope to a Jewish house of worship. Benedict visited one in Cologne, Germany in 2005, and his predecessor Pope John Paul visited the Rome synagogue in 1986.
The German pontiff's next stop on a finely co-ordinated and punctual day, was St. Joseph's church in Manhattan. The parish was founded by German immigrants in 1873.
Hundreds of fans waited near the church for the pontiff's arrival by motorcade and security was extremely tight with bomb sniffing dogs scouring the neighbourhood and police officers placed on the top of the surrounding buildings. Fans were squeezed tight just to get a glimpse of Benedict.

"I think it's a great thing for the city and I'm very excited to see so many people wanting to see him because after all the scandals and everything , it's good to see that," said Cynthia Martin.
Benedict entered the church to resounding applause. His sermon encompassed familiar themes - global solidarity, the challenges of modern technology, the ecumenical movement and what Benedict regards as harmful secular ideologies.
Benedict also discussed global solidarity in his sermon, warning against rapid changes.
The pope will begin his day Saturday (April 19) with a visit to ground zero. The pontiff doesn't plan to speak at the site. Close