Vatican official says Holy Land religions can relaunch peace talks

Published: 2007-03-26

ROME (CNS) -- By promoting respect, sympathy and dialogue among their members, the Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities of the Holy Land can help relaunch the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, a top Vatican diplomat said. Msgr. Piero Parolin, Vatican undersecretary for relations with states, spoke at the opening of a March 22-23 international conference in Rome sponsored by the U.N. Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Quoting amply from Pope Benedict XVI's Christmas 2006 letter to Christians in the Holy Land, Msgr. Parolin highlighted religious attitudes that could make a "constructive contribution" to bringing peace to the region. Religious leaders must help their members give up thoughts of revenge and avoid the temptation of cataloguing past wrongs to see who has suffered most, he said. Instead they must see that all are suffering the effects of violence and insecurity, listen to one another and promote patient dialogue.

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