Israeli/Palestinian Peace: Pope Benedict's and Holy Land's hopes
Pope Benedict says he hopes a new round Jordan-brokered peace talks between Israelis
and Palestinians will “be maintained” and “will lead to a lasting peace.” Speaking
to diplomats gathered in the Vatican on January 9th for the Pope’s annual
State of the World discourse, the Holy Father reiterated his hope that such a peace
will guarantee “the right of the two peoples to dwell in security in sovereign states
and within secure and internationally recognized borders.”
The Pope also urged
the international community to “become more creative in developing initiatives which
promote this peace process and are respectful of the rights of both parties.”
Fr.
David Neuhaus is no newcomer to the problems of a Holy Land in conflict. From a Jewish
Israeli family, Fr. David is now a Catholic priest who cares for the Hebrew speaking
Catholic community in the Holy Land. He tells Philippa Hitchen Christians must keep
up their hope that political leaders will find a solution to the decades-old conflict
and that religious leaders and educators should be more aware of their own role in
creating a peaceful world.
“We certainly need to be aware of the very important
role we can play in speaking responsibly…we are certainly people who are educating
other people. What we need to be aware of is that the words that come out of our
mouths create worlds. And those words need to be poised, prudent, wise and of course
when it comes to us as Christian leaders, evangelical – full of respect and love for
others, hope.”
Fr. Neuhaus also speaks of the growing polarization of Israeli
society over the Jewish identity and democracy of the State.
Listen to Philippa
Hitchen’s interview with Fr. Neuhaus: