Auroran greets Pope Benedict XVI

AURORA, Ill, July 17, 2007- Ronald Ramer of Aurora, associate professor of education at Aurora University, greeted Pope Benedict XVI in a general audience at the Vatican on June 27.

Ramer was among two representatives chosen to greet the Pope from 70 Jews and Christians attending the second International Judeo-Christian Symposium.

In a presentation at the meeting, Ramer discussed developments in Judeo-Christian relations since the inaugural symposium in 2005.

Held in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, the four-day symposium was organized by the Focolare Movement. Participants came from around the world, including Israel and the United States.

Founded in 1943 in Trent, Italy, Focolare has become a worldwide ecumenical movement numbering more than 87,000 members and about two million friends and adherents in over 180 nations.

Movement participants try to live the Gospel by choosing a passage from the scriptures each month as a guideline for daily living.

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