The Egyptian government and people, Christians and Muslims alike, warmly welcomed Pope John Paul II ’s visit. This universal welcome reflected the tolerance and unity of the Egyptian people. After returning to the Vatican, he announced a historic apology for massacres his forefathers committed during the Crusades. Some reject this apology as insufficient to erase past suffering, however author Aref Al-Desouqi urges its acceptance as a means of paving the way for a new era of peace, co-existence, and tolerance. He calls on Muslim and Christian religious leaders to work towards this goal on a global level and give attention to persecution and conflict in different regions. He raises the issue of land mines planted in Egypt’s Western Sahara Desert and urges the Pope to adopt pressing causes such as this one. He addresses the current situation in Israel including the occupation of the holy places and the uprooting of Palestinians from their land. He concludes that acceptance for "the other" cannot come at the expense of anyone else’s rights.