Pave the Way Foundation (PTWF), a non-sectarian organization tasked with removing non-theological obstacle between the religions, has been invited to meet with Pope Benedict XVI at a small gathering of inter-religious organizations. Only fifteen organizations from the United States have been invited. PTWF will be represented by its founders Meredith and Gary Krupp of Long Beach, New York. Mr. Krupp, who is Jewish, curiously is actually the highest ranking lay person in the Roman Catholic Church on Long island as was knighted first by Pope John Paul II to the Papal Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great as a Commander and raised in rank by Pope Benedict XVI to Commander with a Silver Star. Mr. Krupp is the only Jewish man in history ever to have been recognized by two Popes and to be inducted by Anglican Church into the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.
"I have been requested to wear the uniform of my Papal Order by the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, but was informed by the Secret Service that I cannot wear the ceremonial sword of my uniform," Said Mr. Krupp. Meredith Krupp commented " I cannot tell you how humbled and grateful we are that the Holy See has recognized the enormous projects of Pave the Way Foundation and included us in this most prestigious group." Mr. and Mrs. Krupp have met both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI on many private occasions and have known Pope Benedict XVI since he was a Cardinal.
Unique amongst inter-religious groups, Pave the Way Foundation does not specialize in dialog or talking but rather sponsors concrete gestures of goodwill from one religious group to another. PTWF initiated the first ever loan of rare Jewish manuscripts of Maimonides first to be seen by a delegation of Jewish scholars at the Vatican Library and then placed on loan to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. PTWF organized the largest Jewish audience ever with a sitting Pope to thank Pope John Paul II in January 2005 for all he had done in religious reconciliation. Thanks to the work of PTWF, the Bodmer Papyrus, dating from 175 AD and containing the Gospels of St. John and St. Luke and the oldest written version of the Lord’s Prayer in existence, was donated to the Vatican Library in January 2007. PTWF worked to locate the donor and to insure that this priceless artifact was delivered to the Vatican Library to be preserved and to available to scholars for future study. The Bodmer Papyrus is now one of the most important religious possessions of the Vatican Library.
Pave the Way Foundation has also worked to finalize diplomatic relations with the State of Israel and the Holy See and recently was successful in helping the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem finalize his affirmation from the Israeli government, which took almost two years. PTWF works with the Muslims and all of the religious denominations in the US, Europe and the Middle East. "We work in this area to advance our mission to ultimately bring the unified voices of the religions together to stop the illegal use of religion for personal agendas and violence," said Mr. Krupp.
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