JERUSALEM ( CNN ) -- Pope Benedict XVI visited Jerusalem 's holiest sites Tuesday , touring areas sacred to Muslims , Jews and Christians and stressing the common threads of the three faiths . Pope Benedict XVI prays at the Old City 's Western Wall , also known as the Wailing Wall . After visiting the Dome of the Rock , an Islamic shrine , the pontiff prayed at the Old City 's Western Wall . Also known as the Wailing Wall , it was once part of Judaism 's Second Temple , which was destroyed . Later , the pope was scheduled to celebrate Mass at Gethsemane , the site where the Bible says Jesus prayed to God for guidance the night before his crucifixion . `` The Dome of the Rock draws our hearts and minds to reflect upon the mystery of creation and the faith of Abraham . Here the paths of the world 's three great monotheistic religions meet , reminding us what they share in common , '' the pope said at the Islamic shrine after a meeting with the grand mufti of Jerusalem , the city 's top Muslim religious leader . `` Each believes in one God , creator and ruler of all . Each recognizes Abraham as a forefather , a man of faith upon whom God bestowed a special blessing , '' the pontiff said . Muslims believe that the Dome of the Rock is where the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven , while Jews believe that it is where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac . A short distance away in the Old City is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher , believed to be located on the site where Jesus was crucified and buried . The visit took place under extremely tight security . Security personnel with machine guns could be seen across the Temple Mount .
Islam Dome of the Rock , an Muslim shrine , before meeting city 's top Islamic leader . In Islam Dome of the Rock is where Pope ascended to heaven . Prophet Muhammad : `` Here the paths of the world 's three great monotheistic religions meet '' Visit takes place under extremely tight security .