Bordello trade 'doubles' for Sydney's papal tour
PHILIP PULLELLA
SYDNEY : Pope Benedict called for all religions to unite against terrorism and resolve conflicts peacefully yesterday and heard an Islamic leader urge Christians to overcome "misconceptions and prejudices" about Muslims.
"In a world threatened by sinister and indiscriminate forms of violence, the unified voice of religious people urges nations and communities to resolve conflict through peaceful means and with full regard for human dignity," Pope Benedict told a meeting with Muslims, Jews and members of other non-Christian faiths.
The Pope, in Australia for the Church's World Youth Day, also said the Catholic Church was open to learn from other religions, a comment seen in the context of moves to improve relations with other religions, particularly Islam.
"The Church eagerly seeks opportunities to listen to the spiritual experience of other religions," he said.
Catholic-Muslim relations nosedived in 2006 after Pope Benedict delivered a lecture in Regensburg, Germany, that was taken by Muslims to imply that Islam was violent and irrational.
Muslims around the world protested and the pontiff sought to make amends when he visited Turkey's iconic Blue Mosque and prayed towards Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, with its Imam.
Sheikh Mohamadu Saleem, executive member of the Australian National Imams Council, told Pope Benedict: "Muslims should become more inclusive and universal in their understanding of other religions.
"At the same time, significant segments of the Christian and other religious communities should overcome their misconceptions and prejudices of Islam and Muslims.
"If Muslims, Christians and other faith communities reach out to one another and build bridges rather than erect barriers, the whole of humanity will rejoice forever." After the fallout from the Regensburg speech, 138 Muslim scholars and leaders wrote to the German-born pontiff and other Christian leaders last year and in March, the Vatican and Muslim leaders agreed to establish a permanent official dialogue to improve relations.
Sheikh Saleem said he agreed with youths at the meeting in Sydney who have been saying: "Let us promote fundamentalism of love, instead of fundamentalism of hatred."
Asked after the meeting if the sting of the Pope's Regensburg speech was still there, Sheikh Saleem said: "It is unfair to call Islam a violent religion."
Relations between Australia's small Muslim community and the largely Christian population have been strained since the Sept 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and the Iraq War, with Australia only recently withdrawing its troops from Iraq.
Race riots erupted at Sydney's Cronulla Beach in December 2005 as locals attacked anyone of Middle East appearance, believing they were Muslims intent on "taking over" their beach.
Meanwhile, the Church's World Youth Day turned the city into a vast open-air theatre as a bloodied actor portraying Jesus Christ stumbled along the shores of Sydney Harbour before being raised on a cross.
The Sydney Opera House became a stand-in for Pontius Pilate's palace for a recreation of Christ's last hours, using the city's tourist icons as a backdrop.
Young pilgrims climbed trees and toddlers were hoisted upon shoulders as hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful lined the streets, craning for a view of the events leading up to the crucifixion.
The event, one of World Youth Day's main set pieces, began in a party atmosphere outside St Mary's cathedral, where pilgrims waved national flags, played bongo drums and chanted "Benny, Benny" at Pope Benedict.
But the mood turned sombre as it continued with the Sydney actor playing Christ, Alfio Stutio, covered in fake blood and cuts, being tormented by Roman soldiers before being crucified on the shores of Sydney Harbour.
Wearing a loincloth and crown of thorns, the actor threw back his head in agony before being raised on the cross at sunset before 150,000 pilgrims at Barangaroo wharf.
In other news, a Sydney brothel offering a special discount during the Pope's visit said yesterday business had more than doubled since the pontiff arrived.
The owner of the upmarket bordello Xclusive said she had hired extra women to meet increased demand during the July 15-20 World Youth Day events.
While the brothel was not targeting pilgrims, a 10% discount for people associated with World Youth Day, including the 3,000 to 5,000 media covering the papal visit, had significantly boosted business, she said.
"We put on another five staff and they've all been busy," she said.
"We've had lots of foreign visitors but I can't say specifically whether they are pilgrims or not."
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