Israeli president, Pope meet, express hopes for Middle East peace deal

(September 3, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI received Israeli President Shimon Peres in a private audience on Thursday as the first direct peace talks in two years between Israeli and Palestinian leaders were launched in the United States. The two leaders expressed hopes that the renewal of direct talks in Washington would contribute to the "reaching of an agreement that is respectful of the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples and capable of bringing lasting peace to the Holy Land and the entire region," the Vatican said in a written statement. The closed-door, 40-minute papal audience at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome, was "cordial," the Vatican said. Peres also met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. "The condemnation of all forms of violence and the necessity of guaranteeing better conditions of life to all the peoples of the area were reaffirmed" during the meetings, the Vatican statement said. Discussions also included the role of interreligious dialogue and "an overview of the international situation," it said. Church-related issues such as an "examination of the relations between the state of Israel and the Holy See and those of the state authorities with the local Catholic communities" were also discussed, the Vatican statement said. Emphasis was placed on the very special significance of the presence of these communities in the Holy Land and the contribution that they offer for the common good of society, also through Catholic schools, it said. The Vatican statement said the results of a Vatican-Israeli bilateral working commission were looked at and hopes were expressed that the commission's work could soon be concluded. The commission, established in 1993, has been working on and off for years to settle agreements related to the tax situation of Catholic institutions in Israel and other primarily fiscal issues.