German Pope to throw party in New York

Although no official party has been organized, the Pope will celebrate on a six day visit to the U.S.

The 81-year-old German, born Joseph Alois Ratzinger, was ordained as the sixteenth Pope in Rome on 19 April, 2005, following the death of former Pope Johannes Paul II.

The Pope flew to New York on Thursday and made a visit to the congregation of the East Park Synagoge in Manhatten where he took part in a Passover ceremony.

“I’m very happy to be here to show my respect and honour to the Jewish community,” he said.

The head of the synagogue and Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, warmly welcomed the Holy highness with the traditional greeting of “Shalom,” expressing faith in the growing strength of Jewish-Christian relations.

“In the last 45 years we’ve achieved a lot of headway,” he said. “Both communities witnessed the Holocaust, and we have tasted the cost of freedom.”