VATICAN CITY: Israeli President Shimon Peres officially invited Pope Francis to Israel, telling the Pope “the sooner you visit the better, as in these days a new opportunity is being created for peace, and your arrival could contribute significantly to increasing the trust and belief in peace”.
The Israeli President’s remarks were reported in a statement released by the Israeli Embassy to the Vatican after Mr Peres met Pope Francis on April 30.
The statement said Mr Peres told Pope Francis about efforts to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, mentioning specifically the meeting on April 29 in Washington between United States Secretary of State John Kerry and the foreign ministers of the Arab League.
Mr Peres also told the Pope that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas “is a genuine partner for peace”, the statement said.
Mr Peres left the meeting at the Vatican telling the Pope, “I am expecting you in Jerusalem and not just me, but all the people of Israel.”
Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi told reporters, “The Pope would be happy to go to the Holy Land”, although there are no concrete plans for the trip.
The Vatican said that during their half-hour private conversation, the Pope and the President discussed “the political and social situation in the Middle East, where more than a few conflicts persist”.
Pope Francis and Mr Peres expressed hopes for a resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians so that “with courageous decisions and availability on both sides, as well as with the support of the international community, an agreement that respects the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples can be reached”, the statement said.
A resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would contribute to peace and stability throughout the region, the Vatican said.
The two leaders also spoke about “the conflict that plagues Syria” and the need for a political solution in Syria that favoured reconciliation and dialogue.
The statement released later by the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See quoted Mr Peres as praising Pope Francis’ leadership, which is “characterised by humility, the pursuit of peace and not by force”.
“Your leadership creates a new spirit of hope for peace, of dialogue between nationals and of the promotion of a solution to global poverty and illiteracy,” the President said.
Mr Peres, according to the statement, told Pope Francis, “the Middle East is disintegrating” and a severe lack of employment, food and water were making many people vulnerable to those who advocate violence.
“You have an important role in progressing peace and the belief in it,” the statement quoted Mr Peres as telling the Pope.
The President asked the Pope to continue publicly praying for and appealing for peace in the Middle East.
CNS
