What has Rome and Tehran to do with Jerusalem?

On Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is to have called Israel a “cancerous tumor” that was established by Western countries after World War II.  Although Iranian leaders have condemned Israel in the past, and even called for her destruction, Rouhani rarely uses such strong rhetoric.  However, at the 32^nd Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Rouhani called upon Muslins throughout the world to unite and stand against the United States and Israel.   The theme of the conference was “Quds, Axis of Unity among Ummah” or Jerusalem: Center of Unity among Community.  A video of Rouhani speech can be found here.      

Now compare Tehran with Rome.  In 2000, Pope John Paul II prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and asked forgiveness for the sufferings of Jews caused by Christians over the centuries.  

God of our fathers,
you chose Abraham and his descendants
to bring your name to the nations
we are deeply saddened
by the behaviour of those
who in the course of history
have caused these children of yours
to suffer,
and asking your forgiveness
we wish to commit ourselves
to genuine brotherhood
with the people of the covenant.

On 2009, Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged Jerusalem as the spiritual home to Jews, Christians, and Muslims.   He prayed,

God of all the ages, on my visit to Jerusalem, the 'City of Peace', spiritual home to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, I bring before you the joys, the hopes and the aspirations, the trials, the suffering and the pain of all your people throughout the world. 

God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, hear the cry of the afflicted, the fearful, the bereft; send your peace upon this Holy Land, upon the Middle East, upon the entire human family; stir the hearts of all who call upon your name, to walk humbly in the path of justice and compassion.

In 2014, Pope Francis prayed the Our Father at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Pope Francis praying the Our Father at the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Pope John Paul II's prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem