To have Rome visiting Jerusalem isn't a small thing. You visited the Western wall (Kotel) and stuffed a note with charming peace wishes in one of the cracks between these ancient temple stones. You visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum Yad VaShem and spoke unctuous words, His Holiness, but how come you couldn't get any words of regret over your anointed lips? Why not a single sign of repentance about Your Venerable predecessor Pope Pius XII, who kept dead silent in his term of office during the war? Soundless diplomacy? This isn't been understood in Israel, dear Holiness.

You grew up in Nazi Germany and even served in the Wehrmacht for a little while. Oh well, something like that can happen and we don't triple over it here. But the fact that You didn't have the courage to mention the criminal Nazi regime and confess guilt as a German Pope is where we stumble over. The Jewish nation is waiting for words of active regret.

Your righteous German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel understood this. In her speech to the Knesset members she expressed her regret saying; 'The Shoah fills us Germans with shame, I bow my head for the victims, I bow my head for the survivors…' she then received a standing ovation. Being a Roman Chief You could have made yourself immortal by bowing down. Not to kiss the ground, but to express one's regret.

The prophet Daniel, also not one of the least, understood this. Although being righteous he spoke words of regret. Not only in name of his people but also in name of his forefathers:

…"I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: 'O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. ( ) O LORD, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. ( ) Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us…'
Daniel 9

His Holiness, You spoke lofty at Your pontifical visit to the Palestinians that they have the right to own a state. You showed such compassion for their suffering. It's definitely not easy but… not a word about the thousands of Qassam rockets which have been launched at Jewish citizens and the continuing threat of terror. Not a word aimed at the Arab neighbor countries who refuse to receive all those pitiful Palestinians into their oil-dollar-rich Muslim countries. They are left cold for 60 years now already. Palestinian 'refugee camps' are maintained deliberately. While Israel received a few million Jewish refugees and immigrants into her very young national home, Israel.

By the way, on which Biblical foundation do You allow the Palestinians to have an own state?

May I humbly hand You a few verses?

…"I will turn the destiny from my people Israel for the good. ( ) I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them, says the LORD your God…"
Amos 9:15

Or this one:…

"The Israelites will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. They will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them…"
Ezekiel 28:25

Alright, still one more then,…

"I will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. I will cause my people Israel to walk upon you. They will possess you …"
Ezekiel 36:11,12

His Holiness, of course I can understand you're a bit forgetful. Years are adding up. You can find many more passages on the Internet which define Gods eternal devotion to Israel and his dear people. Israel will posses more land.

His Holiness, would it be that You suddenly want to visit Jerusalem again, You are heartily welcome to make a proclamation walk with us over the walls of Jerusalem.

Israel Today, Juny 2009.