Pope expresses closeness to Arafat's family, Palestinian people

Published: 2004-11-11

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II expressed his closeness to the family of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and to the Palestinian people and prayed "that the star of harmony soon shine on the Holy Land." The pope's message followed the Nov. 11 announcement of Arafat's death in a Paris military hospital. The pope prayed that Israelis and Palestinians soon "may live reconciled among themselves as two independent and sovereign states." The message was written by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, and authorized by the pope, a Vatican statement said. It was addressed to Rawhi Fattuh, president of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Cardinal Sodano wrote, "to the condolences of His Holiness, I cordially adjoin my own." Earlier, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement that Arafat "was a leader of great charisma, who loved his people and who sought to guide them toward national independence."

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