Vatican officially present at Rome’s Summit to end Middle East crises.

(July26, 2006): - Government ministers and world leaders met in Rome Wed. July 26 to work on resolving the recent violence in the Middle East. Vatican was officially represented at the Rome Summit, but it also planned to continue working behind the scenes, in pushing for a peaceful solution to the ongoing violence in the region, said Vatican Secretary of State - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who led Vatican’s official delegation, including - Archbishop Giovani Lajolo, Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and two officials from his staff . Cardinal Sodano said "The Holy See tries to be 'super partes' (above all parties). It has a universal mission to unite all of humanity. As modern civilization calls for dialogue, not war, to resolve disputes.Every day the Vatican has been contacting foreign diplomats, in an effort to foster a peaceful resolution. The Vatican has been emphasizing Pope Benedict's concerns and wishes for an immediate cease-fire, and a humanitarian corridor in the area of conflict, so as to get needed aid into the region, said Cardinal Sodano and added that the Vatican will continue to maintain contact with various governments of the world in order to make its contribution, so that this tragedy may end as soon as possible. Cardinal Sodano praised the Italian government and others, who made the July 26 summit a reality, saying the city of Rome has a special "vocation of peace for the world." Government ministers and leaders from at least 13 countries, including the United States and Canada attended the special summit aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict. Representatives from the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank were also present at this Summit, which addressed reconstruction plans and aid to Lebanon. Earlier on Tuesday, Pope Benedict, who is on vacation in the Italian Alps, prayed at a shrine at the foot of Mount Blanc for concrete results from this Summit conference in Rome to end Middle East fighting.