Pope meets the King and Queen of Jordan

(8 May 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Pope's convoy arriving at Royal Palace, Benedict XVI getting out of car, walking on red carpet
2. Pope walking on red carpet, being welcomed by King Abdullah II, Queen Rania and their children
3. Pope walking inside the palace with the royal family
4. Wide of guard of honour
STORYLINE
The pope arrived at Jordan's Royal Palace in Amman on Friday to pay a courtesy visit to King Abdullah II and his wife, Queen Rania, on his first visit to the Middle East, where he hopes to improve frayed ties with Muslims.
Earlier on Friday, the pope was met at the airport by the king and praised the moderate Arab country as a leader in efforts to promote peace in the region and dialogue between Christians and Muslims.
Speaking to reporters on the plane, the pope said he hoped the Catholic church could play a role in the Middle East peace process.
The pope said the Catholic church was not a political power, but a spiritual force that he hoped could contribute to attempts to forge peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Jordan's king praised the pope and said that his visit was the beginning of "a historic journey to the heartland of faith for Christians and Muslims alike."
Christians make up three percent of Jordan's 5.8 (m) million people.
The pope's three-day stay in Jordan is his first visit to an Arab country as pontiff.
During his time in the country, the pope is scheduled to meet Muslim religious leaders at Amman's largest mosque - his second visit to a Muslim place of worship since becoming pope in 2005.
He prayed in Istanbul's famed Blue Mosque - a gesture that helped calm the outcry over his remarks.
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