Pope, Israeli foreign minister meet, discuss Middle East tensions

Published: 2003-12-11

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II and Israel's foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, met privately at the Vatican Dec. 11 to discuss the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Shalom also met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state, the Vatican said in a statement. "In the course of the meetings, both sides expressed their points of view on the path to follow in order to obtain peace in the Holy Land," the Vatican said. The pope, the cardinal and the foreign minister agreed that a "way out of the current situation" must be found, and "concrete acts of reconciliation" by both Israelis and Palestinians are necessary, the Vatican statement said. Israel's foreign ministry said Shalom told the pope, "We all hope that peace will happen next year." The foreign minister said Israel is committed to reaching a peace agreement through direct negotiations with the Palestinians.

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