The Great Schism (split) took place in 1054 when the Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Roman Catholic) Christian Churches separated. The second Schism took place in 1517 with the Protestant Revolution. The religion Islam was formed around 624 C.E. and Judaism was founded around 2000 B.C.E.
In 1986, John Paul II became the first Pope to enter a Jewish synagogue. In 1999, John Paul II became the first Pope to visit an Orthodox land since the Great Schism of 1054. And in 2001 John Paul II became the first Pope to enter a mosque. Pope John Paul II said at the time, "The world looks to the Middle East with hope and concern expectantly waiting for any sign of constructive dialog...In this holy land, Christians, Muslims and Jews are called to work together, with confidence and boldness and to work to bring about without delay the day when the legitimate rights of all people are respected and they can live in peace and mutual understanding."
The city of Damascus was founded by Uz, the grandson of Shem. In ancient times Damascus was colonized by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Saracens and finally the Turks in 1516. In April 2007, Nancy Pelosi - at the time the 3rd-highest ranking politician in the United States government - met with Bashar al-Asad for peace talks. Believing dialog was the answer to resolve the Mideast crises and in the hope it would bring about world peace, Nancy came to Damascus carrying a message, "We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace." It was explained the road to Damascus was the road Saul of Tarsus took when came face to face with Jesus Christ which changed his life. He was born again as St. Paul. Jimmy Carter supported Nancy's trip insisting, "Pelosi's visit to Damascus may eventually be just as historic as that of Saul."
