Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Studies of Anglo-Saxon Language and Literature

Pope Francis three-day tour to the Middle East

Scientific coordinator: Conf. univ. dr. Otilia Huiu

Student: iclo Ramona

Arad, 2014
 Background Information
Pope Francis three-day tour to the Middle East received extensive coverage in the
media. Pope Francis' visit to the region was perceived by the majority of the media
engaged in conveying news as a difficult mission which took all his tact and
diplomacy to improve interfaith relations and push forward the Middle East peace
talks on account of the tensions between the Jewish community and the Catholic
Church and the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Media discussed the
Catholic leader tour and its religious, political and historical symbolism. However,
there were several gestures of Pope Francis which caused controversy and attracted
widespread criticism.
We suggest three articles which cover the subject.

1. Why Pope Francis May Be the Best Politician in the World

a) The Social Action

Why Pope Francis May Be the Best Politician in the World is an article
published on 27th May 2014 in the online version of Time, an American magazine
engaged in conveying news.

b) The Text
To reduce the Pope's upcoming Palestinian-Israeli prayer summit to an act of mere
symbolism fails to understand the role religion can play in addressing political crises.
Its hard to argue that Pope Francis is not the worlds best politician after his trip
this past weekend to the Holy Land. In fifty-five hours, the 77-year-old Bishop of Rome
visited three countries, gave fifteen addresses, planted two trees and held a
groundbreaking 45-minute press conference. With a weekend full of blockbuster
moments, it might be a bit audacious to say one stood out above the rest. But if there is
one that will have a lasting impact on the region, it was Pope Franciss Sunday surprise.
While celebrating an open-air Mass in Bethlehem, Francis unexpectedly invited
Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican
for a June meeting of prayer and dialogue. Within an hour, both had accepted.

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 Franciss successful overture was especially remarkable considering the failed
efforts by the United States earlier this spring to get both sides to the table to begin
negotiated peace talks. However, this could be the boost that Secretary of State John
Kerry needed to revive this peace process, which has been largely dormant for the past
four years.
But almost immediately, commentators have tried to downplay the meeting.
Daniel Levy told The New York Times that the meeting would mean nothing in big-
picture terms. David Horovitz, the editor of the Times of Israel, added that [i]t would
be nave to think the sight of Peres, Abbas and the pope doing anything together is going
to change the world. He did acknowledge, however, that the meeting would help the
effort to foster a different mind-set among Israelis and Palestinians.

But to reduce Junes meeting to an act of mere symbolism fails to understand the
role religion can and should play in addressing difficult political and ethnic issues.
Throughout world history, religious prophets have creatively navigated tense situations to
advance peace and justice. Within the past century, Gandhi, Martin Luther King and St.
John Paul II showed us that religious witness can win a war without raising a hand.
Even as recently as last September, Pope Francis and the Catholic Church flexed
their spiritual muscles in the wake of possible American military intervention in Syria.
When an invasion seemed imminent, Francis called on the Church to have a global day of
prayer and fasting. During a vigil held in St. Peters Square, Francis asked: [i]s it
possible to change direction? Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we
learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace?
Critics argued then that the Churchs response of fasting and prayer would do
nothing to alter the situation in Syria. But they were wrong. The international community
negotiated a disarmament plan for Syrias chemical weapons, and the United States was
able to avoid a third significant overseas military campaign in twelve years.
Did prayer really make the difference? Its hard to say. Violence still engulfs
Syria, and the progress towards peace is difficult. But time and again when political
actors fail to make progress on societys most contentious issues, religion has made all
the difference.

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 If Pope Franciss prayer meeting is the initial catalyst to restart the Middle East
peace talks and we can somehow end the perpetual violence that plagues the region, then
we will know the angel Gabriel was right: nothing is impossible with God.

c) Topic Development. The Structure of the Discourse

The article is a piece of comment about Pope Francis tour in the Middle East
written by Christopher J. Hale. His comment follows approximately the pattern of an
expository discourse: problem-solution-supporting argumentation-evaluation1.

The choice of the headline is made according to the point the author aims to
emphasize: Why Pope Francis May Be the Best Politician in the World. The articles
lead may be perceived as an expansion of the headline and encapsulates in a single
statement the topic of the discourse. Since it embeds a comment we may assume that the
lead also sets the tone for the whole article: To reduce the Pope's upcoming Palestinian-
Israeli prayer summit to an act of mere symbolism fails to understand the role religion
can play in addressing political crises.
The modality of the discourse is lowered by the modal operator Why Pope
Francis May Be the Best Politician in the World used in the headline of the article. The
introductory paragraph restages the topic of the article and expresses the authors position
on the subject: religion and religious leaders can play an important role in addressing
political and ethnic issues. Initial position of the phrase Its hard to lowers the modality of
the text as well as the use of the negative aspect of the Predicator: is not the worlds best
politician. Actually, Hale provides his readers incontrovertible evidence to support and
explain his position: In fifty-five hours, the 77-year-old Bishop of Rome visited three
countries, gave fifteen addresses, planted two trees and held a groundbreaking 45-minute
press conference.
The introductory paragraph is followed by the section which comprises both the
problem and the solution:

1
In our paper we have adopted the structure suggested by Hoey quoted by Longacre (1996)
(http://www.gial.edu/images/gialens/vol4-3/Tim%20MacSaveny-Description%20of%20Descriptive
%20Discourse.pdf).

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 Problem: failure of the United States to bring together the Israelis and the
Palestinians to begin negotiated peace talks.
Solution: Francis issued an invitation to Israeli President Shimon Peres and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican. Within an hour, both had accepted.
This article is also an attempt to de-emphasize the negative things said about
Francis role in conducting negotiations for a peace accord between the Israelis and the
Palestinians: Daniel Levy told The New York Times that the meeting would mean
nothing in big-picture terms.() But to reduce Junes meeting to an act of mere
symbolism fails to understand the role religion can and should play in addressing
difficult political and ethnic issues.
It maintains that Francis moral authority may have a beneficial influence on this
political issue. To support his position, the author of the article employs the moral
authority of other important religious leaders: Throughout world history, religious
prophets have creatively navigated tense situations to advance peace and justice. Within
the past century, Gandhi, Martin Luther King and St. John Paul II showed us that
religious witness can win a war without raising a hand.
Another argument that Hale provides to his readers is connected to Pope Francis
struggle to alter the situation in Syria: When an invasion seemed imminent, Francis
called on the Church to have a global day of prayer and fasting () is it possible to
change direction? Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once
again to walk and live in the ways of peace? Again, the author de-emphasizes the
negative things said about the role played by the Catholic Church in avoiding the
American military intervention in Syria: Critics argued then that the Churchs response
of fasting and prayer would do nothing to alter the situation in Syria. But they were
wrong. Hale maintains that Francis recommendations and comments influenced the most
important political figures beliefs and attitudes towards the Syrian belligerent situation:
The international community negotiated a disarmament plan for Syrias chemical
weapons, and the United States was able to avoid a third significant overseas military
campaign in twelve years.
However, in the last two paragraphs which function as the evaluation of the
comment, Hale admits that progress towards peace is difficult. But, in his opinion, Pope

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Francis, one of the most influential religious leaders, and the Catholic Church are
promoters of peace, love and tolerance: when political actors fail to make progress on
societys most contentious issues, religion has made all the difference.
Taking into account the point the author aims to emphasize, we may admit that
Christopher J. Hales comment pertains to the discourse of sympathy. Reading the article,
the ideology which becomes noticeable within the discourse is the pacifist one. Also it is
perceivable that the author has strong religious convictions: If Pope Franciss prayer
meeting is the initial catalyst to restart the Middle East peace talks and we can somehow
end the perpetual violence that plagues the region, then we will know the angel Gabriel
was right: nothing is impossible with God.
2. Pope's Visit to Israel A Victory for Islamic Terrorism

a) The Social Action

Pope's Visit to Israel A Victory for Islamic Terrorism is an article published on
27th May 2014 in the online version of Arutz Sheva, namely Israel National News, an
Israeli media network engaged in conveying news, political commentary and Arab press
coverage.
b) The Text
This Pope is Islam's brother. The trip was all about Islam's grievances and we let
them get away with it.

If anyone was infallible during the Popes visit to Israel, it was terrorist president
Mahmoud Abbas. He got everything he wanted from the Pope.
Abbas choreographed the entire thing. Showtime started when the Pope bypassed
Israel proper and went straight to PA controlled Bethlehemand of course the entire trip
was a show. It was about symbols. Otherwise what was the purpose and frankly, hardly
anyone remembers the purpose.
If the Popes journey to the Holy Land was to justify terrorism, mission
accomplished.
Mercifully it is over. But the damage has been done.

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 Whose Holy Land is it anyway? The deed was given to the Hebrews. Gods
contract is in every page of Scriptures read in every church and synagogue.
If that pledge given to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob was ever abrogated, Show
me the paper, Rabbi Kook used to say.
That was Pope John XXIII who (quoting Genesis 45:4) declared to the Jews, I
am Joseph, your brother.
No, this Pope was Islams brother.
The trip had absolutely nothing to do with Israel. It has nothing to do with Jews or
Catholics. It was all about Islam and its grievances. The Pope complied.
Balaam at least tried to stall the curses.
Abbas took the stage and never let go. He wrote, produced and directed the entire
spectacle. He wanted the Pope at the wall, the protective barrier that Israel erected 10
years ago so that fewer Arabs could murder fewer Jews? He got his wish. Except that
Abbas wanted it to symbolize Israeli apartheid. The Pope obliged.
Bibi had to quickly summon a speech to remind Pope Francis how dangerous it
was before the wall went up, but too late.
The pictures worth a thousand words had already circulated the globe.
Where was Israels leadership from the beginning of this disaster until the end?
Didnt they know the Pope was coming?
Half of life is showing up. The other half is being prepared. Israels leadership
failed here on both counts.
How did Abbas get to play the moral equivalency card make that the moral
superiority card during every step of the Popes visit?
Victimhood in its entirely belonged to Abbas and his Palestinian Arabs and the Pope was
taken in.
How did the oldest of nations, Israel, going back more than 3,500 years, get
outsmarted by a gang that was invented in 1967, A.D. and calling itself Palestinians?
Bibi and the rest of his staff were constantly playing catch-up and constantly
being outmaneuvered by Abbas a thug, a terrorist.
Did Israel not know that Abbas had plans to prove that the baby Jesus was a
Palestinian Arab? Too late again.

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 The Pope blessed that, too, an Arab Jesus, and pictures were taken.
That image will stick for centuries and who knows how this will play throughout
todays Catholic world?
My good Catholic friend John calls it, Heresy.
As if we need proof that Israel is absolutely lame in the art of public relations,
here is evidence that is most telling and disturbing --
After getting the Pope to visit that protective barrier, a real coup and a cute trick
for Abbas, Israeli leaders had to swiftly transfer the Pope to Israels national cemetery at
Mount Herzl. The word we get is that this was not part of the itinerary but was tacked on
to save the day.

But nothing could save this misadventure. This Papal visit was no blessing, but a
victory for Islamic terrorism. There is no other way to say it.

c) Topic Development. The Structure of the Discourse

The article written by Jack Engelhard is a strong criticism leveled at Pope Francis
unscheduled stop at the separation wall during his tour in the Middle East. According to
the article, Pope Francis praying at the wall near Bethlehem, which in the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict is a symbol of the divisions between the two parties, was an act of
partisanship.
The article is structured around three Adverbials of Condition:
1. If anyone was infallible during the Popes visit to Israel, it was terrorist president
Mahmoud Abbas.
2. If the Popes journey to the Holy Land was to justify terrorism, mission accomplished.
3. If that pledge given to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob was ever abrogated, Show me
the paper, Rabbi Kook used to say.
Conditional if has initial position, emphasizing the fact that these idea have been
previously discussed (e.g. If anyone was infallible during the Popes visit to Israel, it was
terrorist president Mahmoud Abbas implies the idea that the perfidy and deviousness of
the Palestinian president is well-known).

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 Among the Israelis, Pope Francis gesture received political connotations, being
perceived as a strong public support for the Palestinians since the wall is covered in anti-
Israeli graffiti and it symbolizes the restrictions imposed by the Israeli on their daily lives:
The trip had absolutely nothing to do with Israel. It has nothing to do with Jews or
Catholics. It was all about Islam and its grievances () and of course the entire trip was
a show. It was about symbols. Otherwise what was the purpose and frankly, hardly
anyone remembers the purpose.
However, in our example Pope Francis initiative seems to be used only as a
pretext to reinforce the fact that Jack Engelhard (implying all the Israelis) has nothing
but contempt and scorn for the Palestinians and their leader, the President Mahmoud
Abbas. In point of fact, the target of the criticism is the Palestinian president who is
referred to as a thug or a terrorist: Abbas choreographed the entire thing. Showtime
started when the Pope bypassed Israel proper and went straight to PA controlled
Bethlehem. () Victimhood in its entirely belonged to Abbas and his Palestinian Arabs
and the Pope was taken in.
He develops his evidence interpreting the negative side of Pope Francis act:
Mercifully it is over. But the damage has been done. The political bias is openly
expressed. Jack Engelhard conjoins religion, historical moments and political issues.
Nevertheless, the article is a criticism directed to the Israels political leaders.
Consider the following examples:
Half of life is showing up. The other half is being prepared. Israels leadership failed here
on both counts.
Where was Israels leadership from the beginning of this disaster until the end? Didnt
they know the Pope was coming?
As if we need proof that Israel is absolutely lame in the art of public relations, here is
evidence that is most telling and disturbing
Bibi and the rest of his staff were constantly playing catch-up and constantly being
outmaneuvered by Abbas.
The authors viewpoint it is formulated in exaggerated terms and his tone is
extremely aggressive, a consequence of his ideological position. He also exploits
rhetorical devices. They are relevant to the overall persuasiveness of the discourse and

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facilitate the identification with the ethnic in-group. Numerous rhetorical questions and
metaphors render his discourse such as: Did Israel not know that Abbas had plans to
prove that the baby Jesus was a Palestinian Arab? Too late again. The Pope
blessed that, too, an Arab Jesus, and pictures were taken.
The use of language underlines the political bias. Formulations such as this pope,
a gang that was invented in 1967 () calling itself Palestinians or This Papal visit
within the discourse show us the authors contempt for both the Pope Francis gesture and
the Palestinians. In point of fact, it shows us contempt for his political leaders and also
for other religions and cultures. The headline itself reflects an intransigent position. To
bridge the Israeli- Palestinian gap is still difficult.

3. Pope Francis invites Israeli, Palestinian leaders to Vatican peace talks

a) The Social Action

Pope Francis invites Israeli, Palestinian leaders to Vatican peace talks is an
article published on 25th May 2014 in the international online edition of CNN, an
important American media producer engaged in conveying news. The article written by
Laura Smith-Spark, Ivan Watson and Delia Gallagher pertains to the genre of news
reporting.
b) The Text
Bethlehem, West Bank (CNN) -- Pope Francis extended an invitation Sunday to
the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to travel to the Vatican for a "peace
initiative," after earlier calling for a two-state solution to the intractable conflict.

The pontiff's remarks came at the end of an outdoor Mass in Bethlehem's Manger
Square on the second day of his three-day trip to the Middle East.
"In this, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, I wish to invite you, President
Mahmoud Abbas, together with Israeli President Shimon Peres, to join me in heartfelt
prayer to God for the gift of peace," Francis said.
"I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer."

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 He added, "Building peace is difficult, but living without peace is a constant
torment. The men and women of these lands, and of the entire world, all of them, ask us
to bring before God their fervent hopes for peace."
The Palestinian side has accepted the invitation and Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas will go to the Vatican, a Palestinian Legislative Council
member, Hanan Ashrawi, told CNN.
The Israeli President's office said that he welcomed the invitation. "President
Peres has always supported, and will continue to support, any attempts to progress the
cause of peace," his office said.
Pope Francis then traveled on to Tel Aviv, where in remarks on the airport tarmac
to Peres and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he again issued an invitation to
pray for peace at the Vatican. He also reiterated the Vatican's support for Israel's right to
exist in peace and security.
The next stop on his historic trip was Jerusalem.
Two states
Earlier, speaking alongside Abbas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Francis
called for the recognition of a Palestinian state -- but he made the same demand on behalf
of the state of Israel.
He urged "the acknowledgment by all of the right of two states to exist and to live
in peace and security within internationally recognized borders."
The Pope called on all sides to pursue a path to peace together and not take
unilateral actions to disrupt it.
"I can only express my profound hope that all will refrain from initiatives and
actions which contradict the stated desire to reach a true agreement, and that peace will
be pursued with tireless determination and tenacity," he said.
Middle East peace talks recently stalled despite high-profile efforts by U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry to push them forward.
The government of Israel has objected to unilateral initiatives by Palestinians to
seek international recognition as a state, and Palestinians have objected to Israeli
initiatives to expand settlements on the West Bank.
Protecting Christians

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 In his remarks in Bethlehem, Francis called on Abbas to protect the religious
rights of Palestinian Catholics.
The Vatican has expressed concern over the emigration of Palestinian Christians.
The pontiff also took a stand for the poor, suffering under tensions between
Israelis and Palestinians.
"Even in the absence of violence, the climate of instability and a lack of mutual
understanding have produced insecurity, the violation of rights, isolation and the flight of
entire communities, conflicts, shortages and sufferings of every sort," he said.
After meeting with Abbas, Francis cruised in the Popemobile through a crowd of
hundreds of Catholic faithful and onlookers gathered in Manger Square as they awaited
the papal Mass.
Priests and the faithful swayed to religious music, while many waved red, green,
black and white Palestinian flags and others yellow and white Vatican flags.
The Pope hopped off the Popemobile to shake hands with people in the crowd.
In a symbolically charged moment, he also stopped the vehicle to cross over to the
separation barrier erected by Israel, its surface daubed with graffiti including the words
"Free Palestine!" There, arm outstretched, he touched the concrete wall, his head
apparently bowed in prayer.
Mustafa Barghouti, general secretary of the Palestine National Initiative, told
CNN, "The Pope did not only put his hand on a concrete wall. He put his hand on
occupation. He put his hand on (an) apartheid system, on a system of separation, and
discrimination, and oppression."
Refugee children make appeal
Francis also met with a group of Palestinian refugee children while in the West
Bank.
As they entered, the children held up signs about the occupation of Palestinian
territories, typed in Arabic, Italian and English.
"Muslims and Christians live under the occupation," read one. Another said, "I
have never been to the sea!" in an apparent reference to the restrictions on movement
under which Palestinians live.

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 After the children sang and presented him with gifts, the Pope responded in his
native tongue, Spanish, to say he had heard their message.
"Never let the past determine your lives," he said. "Violence is not overcome by
violence. Violence is overcome by peace."
While in Jerusalem, Francis will meet with Bartholomew, the Ecumenical
Patriarch of Constantinople.
His visit to the region commemorates the 50th anniversary of the landmark
meeting between Pope Paul VI and the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians
at the time, Patriarch Athenagoras, in Jerusalem.
The pope will also meet the city's grand mufti and chief rabbis, visit the Western
Wall and Yad Vashem, a memorial to the Holocaust, and lay a wreath on the grave of the
founder of modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl.
The Holy Land visit is the first for Francis as leader of the Roman Catholic
Church, and just the fourth for any pontiff in the modern era.

c) Topic Development. The Structure of the Discourse

This discursive instance is a news report, therefore its dominant focus is
represented by the sequence of events which is related, namely Pope Francis three-day
tour to the Middle East. The headline forms a full-sentence and is highly informative in
relation with the context. The article is designed to provide information on the Pontiffs
three-day tour. However, the newsworthy information is positioned at the beginning of
the news article: Pope Francis extended an invitation Sunday to the leaders of Israel and
the Palestinian Authority to travel to the Vatican for a "peace initiative," after earlier
calling for a two-state solution to the intractable conflict.
The article has informative sub-headings which stage the topic discussed in the
respective paragraph: Two states, Protecting Christians or Refugee children make appeal.
The journalists present the facts as they are found, the report of the events is detailed, the
language is clear and unambiguous and the news item includes quotations from Pope
Francis or the Palestinian administration. Therefore, the news is perceived by the readers
as being relevant, unbiased and trustworthy. To a lesser extent, the article also
encompasses an evaluative strand: The Pope's trip to the Holy Land has been billed as a

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"pilgrimage for prayer," with its roots in faith, not politics. But in a region where religion
and politics are so closely intertwined, his every remark takes on an added significance.

However, this news report is an informative discourse and its objectivity is

displayed by numbers and statistics. Consider the following examples:
His visit to the region commemorates the 50th anniversary of the landmark meeting
between Pope Paul VI and the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians at the
time, Patriarch Athenagoras, in Jerusalem.
The Holy Land visit is the first for Francis as leader of the Roman Catholic Church, and
just the fourth for any pontiff in the modern era.
Christian refugees from Syria, Iraq and the Palestinian territories were among those
present, and 1,400 children received their First Communion at the Mass.
According to how its contents are expressed, this news report pertains to the
discourse of rational justification.

Bibliography
Huiu, O. Discourse Analysis. Note de curs

On-line sources:
Edition. CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/25/world/pope-mideast-trip/

Time: http://time.com/119438/why-pope-francis-may-be-the-best-politician-in-the-world/

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Arutz Sheva:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/15068#.U4yC73ZdPIX

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