By , Staff Reporter of the Sun | April 3, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI will visit a synagogue on the Upper East Side during his visit this month to New York City.
It will be the first time a pontiff has visited a synagogue in America, and popes have only ever visited two other synagogues, according to the announcement by the synagogue.
Pope Benedict will visit the Park East Synagogue on East 68th Street in the evening of Friday, April 18. He was invited there by the synagogue’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Arthur Schneier.
“This historic first is a reaffirmation of Pope Benedict XVI commitment to inter-religious dialogue and outreach to the Jewish community,” Rabbi Schneier said in a statement.
The pope has visited one other synagogue, in Cologne, according to Mr. Schneier. Pope John Paul II also visited a synagogue in Rome.
The pope’s visit this month will be his first to America. He will be stopping in Washington D.C. first before heading to New York, where he will give a service at Yankee Stadium for congregants and at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral for clergy. He will also be visiting ground zero.
