After the pope delivered a message of unity and mutual understanding between religions, Tamimi called on Christians and Muslims to work together against Israel.

"We struggle together and we suffer together from the injustice of the Israeli occupation and its oppressive practices, and we look forward to freedom and independence,” Tamimi said. “His holiness the pope, I call on you in the name of the one God to condemn these crimes and pressure the Israeli government to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people.”

The Vatican was quick to object to Tamimi’s unscheduled remarks, saying that "We hope that such an incident will not damage the mission of the pope aiming at promoting peace and also interreligious dialogue, as he has clearly affirmed in many occasions during this pilgrimage.”

“Tamimi’s words are contrary to the intercommunal spirit that is accompanying the pope’s visit,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said. “While it is certainly an outrage that the sheikh has attacked Israel with such venom, we are pleased that the Vatican has remained constant in its mission during this trip and has denounced Tamimi’s comments.”

Tamimi’s rhetoric is especially unsettling given the upcoming rounds of meetings between President Barack Obama and Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Tamimi’s vehement objection to the works of the State of Israel is emblematic of the difficulties currently gripping the region from the opposition to the peace process.