(Vatican Radio) The Apostolic Nuncio to Israel, Archbishop Giuseppe Lanzarotto says
the Holy See is hoping soon to reach a satisfactory conclusion to its ongoing talks
with Israel on fiscal and property issues related to Catholic institutions in the
Holy Land. Archbishop Lanzarotto also spoke of his hopes concerning the current visit
to the Holy Land by a delegation of Catholic bishops from Europe and North America.
He was interviewed by Vatican Radio's Veronica Scarisbrick who's travelling with the
bishops.
Listen to the extended interview with the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel,
Archbishop Giuseppe Lanzarotto:
Asked about
the longstanding negotations between the Holy See and Israel to resolve outstanding
fiscal and economic issues, the Apostolic Nuncio said the talks were continuing:
"the dialogue is still open and we're hoping to reach soon a good conclusion."
Archbishop
Lanzarotto was only appointed Nuncio to Israel last year but is familiar with the
Middle East region as he served there 30 years ago. Referring to changes that have
taken place during the past 3 decades, he expressed "regret" over Israel's building
of the separation barrier saying it is also a barrier to peace and dialogue. "Erecting
walls in every sense of the word, material and spiritual, doesn't help... violence
and confrontation have never solved any problems, instead they have created, generated
problems."
The Ambassador said he hoped that the annual pilgrimage to the Holy
Land by a delegation of Catholic Bishops from Europe and North America will help to
raise awareness throughout the world, helping people "to understand what's going on"
(in the Holy Land). Archbishop Lanzarotto said in this context it was very important
to support "the efforts of so many people of good will" and "there are so many of
them," he added.