Pope
Francis meets Israeli President in the Vatican
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis met Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin in the Vatican on
Thursday (3rd August) and held talks that focused on the situation in the
Middle East and bilateral relations.
A
statement was issued afterwards by the Holy See’s Press Office which said that
in addition to meeting Pope Francis, the Israeli Head of State also held talks
afterwards with the (Vatican) Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin,
accompanied by the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul
Gallagher.
It
said during the “cordial discussions” the two parties discussed “the political
and social situation in the Middle East plagued by various conflicts, paying
particular attention to the situation concerning Christians and other minority
groups.” They also stressed “the importance of interreligious dialogue and the
responsibility of religious leaders to promote reconciliation and peace.”
The
statement went on to say that the talks covered “the need and the urgency to
promote a climate of trust between Israelis and Palestinians and to restart
direct negotiations to reach an accord that respects the legitimate aspirations
of the two Peoples, as a fundamental contribution to peace and stability in the
region.”
Finally,
the statement also said that the two parties held discussions on “several
questions concerning relations between the State of Israel and the Holy See and
between the state authorities and the local Catholic community, and expressed
the hope for a speedy conclusion of the Bilateral Accord that is currently
being drawn up and for an appropriate solution to several questions of common
interest including that regarding Christians schools in the nation.”
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