Pope calls for independent Palestinian state (2nd Lead)

May 13, 2009, 8:56 GMT

A Palestinian security guard watches over a Holy Mass hold by Pope Benedict XVI in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity (L), the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, 13 May 2009. Pope Benedict XVI called for a Palestinian homeland and urged youths to resist temptation for \'terrorism\' in his first trip to the occupied West Bank. EPA/ABED AL HASHLAMOUN

Bethlehem, West Bank - Pope Benedict XVI began the Palestinian leg of his five-day tour of the Holy Land Wednesday by expressing unequivocal support for an independent Palestinian state - and urging young Palestinians to renounce violence against Israelis.

In a mass conducted after his arrival ceremony in the biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, the pontiff called on local Christians to 'persevere.

Benedict also told Gazans at the mass that he hoped Israel's blockade of the Strip would 'soon be lifted.'

'The Holy See supports the right of your people to a sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers, secure and at peace with its neighbours, within internationally recognized borders,' Benedict assured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the ceremony welcoming him to the city where Jesus Christ was born.

He also expressed solidarity with the Palestinians, telling them 'I know how much you have suffered,' and with Palestinian refugees, saying 'My heart goes out to all the families who have been left homeless.'

Abbas, in his address welcoming the pontiff, thanked Benedict for the Vatican's understanding of the 'suffering of our people' and called for a peace with Israel based on a two-state solution.

Benedict also voiced 'deep compassion' with Palestinians who lost loved ones in Israel's recent Gaza offensive, and asked for international assistance in rebuilding the enclave.

But he urged Palestinians not to use to violence and terrorism to achieve their national aspirations.

'I make this appeal to the many young people throughout the Palestinian Territories today: do not allow the loss of life and the destruction that you have witnessed to arouse bitterness or resentment in your hearts. Have the courage to resist any temptation you may feel to resort to acts of violence or terrorism,' he said.

From the ceremony, the pontiff headed in his trademark popemobile to Manger Square, outside the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ, where he conducted a mass for thousands of local Christians and foreign pilgrims, who waited patiently for the pontiff, and who chanted 'viva il Papa.'

A giant poster of Benedict and a huge Palestinian flag dangled from the adjacent municipality building.

'Here in Bethlehem, a special perseverance is asked of Christ's disciples,' Benedict said.

'In a special way my heart goes out to the pilgrims from war-torn Gaza: I ask you to bring back to your families and your communities my warm embrace, and my sorrow for the loss, the hardship and the suffering you have had to endure.'

In an otherwise largely religious address, calling again for peace and justice - a central theme of his five-day visit to Israel and the Palestinians areas - the pontiff told Gazans they had his prayers that Israel's economic embargo of the strip 'will soon be lifted.'

The Catholic Church had said it asked Israel for travel permits for some 250 Christians living in the crowded coastal enclave, to allow them to attend Papal masses in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth. But of those Israel had approved under 100. A tiny minority of between 1,000 - 3,000 Christians live in Gaza, of whom 286 are Catholics.

In the West Bank, some 50,000 Christian Palestinians live among 2.4 million Muslims.

Several veiled Muslim wives and mothers attended the Bethlehem mass as well, holding up photographs of Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel.

In the early afternoon, Benedict is scheduled to pray privately at the Grotto of the Nativity in the Church of the Nativity, where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was born.

   He is then then to tour the local Caritas Baby Hospital before visiting the nearby Aida refugee camp, considered by local Palestinians one of the highlights of his one-day stopover in the Palestinian areas. He was expected to address the camp's 5,000 refugees from the courtyard of the local UN-run school.

   Benedict will then hold talks with Abbas in the early evening before returning to Jerusalem.

Benedict arrived Monday from Jordan for the five-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian areas - his first to the Middle East as pontiff, and only the third Pope to visit the region in modern times.