Witness History: Witness Archive 2016 - The Pope in Syria - 2001

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In May 2001 Pope John Paul the Second made a historic visit to Syria, and became the first pontiff to officially enter a mosque. The Grand Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Ahmed Kuftaro, accompanied the Pope to the ancient Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, where they both called for peace and unity of all faiths in the region.

Photo: Pope John Paul II with Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Kuftaro in Damascus 2001. Credit: Getty Images)

Published on Thursday, 12th May 2016.

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