IN MY SHOES: Ed Koch: Fear Of Provoking Islamic Terrorism Is Nothing New
Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch uses a New York Times article about Christian minorities in Iraq fearing to worship in their churches in the wake of a recent lecture by Pope Benedict XVI about forced conversions and other untenable practices adopted by radical Islamists as a springboard to recount a conversation he had with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in May 1985:
"Your Holiness, I'm Jewish, and I want to urge you to recognize the state if Israel. This is particularly important now because you recently received Yasir Arafat at the Vatican, and you embraced him. The Jews in New York City were very upset about this, but I explained to them there is nothing wrong with your doing that. Your religiousness requires you to embrace every sinner. In fact, Your Holiness, you did something which I tell people nobody else would do. You went to the cell of the Turk who tried to assassinate you. And you forgave him. Most people wouldn't do that. I couldn't do that. So I am not distressed with the fact that you embraced Arafat."
"Mr. Mayor," the Pope interrupted, "I understand your concern, and the concern of the Jewish people. Let me reassure you, I have been very supportive, in every possible way, and I will continue to be so in the future."
"Your Holiness," I said, "the best way you could reassure Jews of your affection and support is to recognize the state of Israel." …
"… [W]hat you seek is difficult. It will happen someday, but it can't happen now. I have a responsibility to the Catholics who live in the Koranic lands and who would be in danger if we recognized Israel." …
Pope John Paul II did establish diplomatic relations with the State of Israel on December 30, 1993.
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