With a childhood in Poland spent under the Nazi occupation, Pope John Paul II knew better than most what ethnic hatred could lead to. His first steps after ascending to the head of the Vatican was in restoring the Catholic ties with Jews and Muslims. There was no love lost between Catholics and Muslims, only a long, bitter history of wars and Crusades. With his overtures to Syrian President Bashar Assad accepted, John Paul went where no Christian dared to read: the Umayyad mosque, where St John the Baptist is said to be buried.

On this day, May 6, in 2001, to great publicity, John Paul became the first to visit a Muslim mosque. In addressing the great stride made in the Christian-Muslim rapprochement, John Paul called it a “great day for Muslims around the world.”

“As we make our way through life towards our heavenly destiny, Christians feel the company of Mary, the Mother of Jesus; and Islam too pays tribute to Mary and hails her as ‘chosen above the women of the world’ (Quran, III:42),” said John Paul in his address at the mosque. “May the hearts of Christians and Muslims turn to one another with feelings of brotherhood and friendship, so that the Almighty may bless us with the peace which heaven alone can give. To the One, Merciful God be praise and glory for ever. Amen”