World News
Israeli president, pope meet, express hopes for Middle East peace deal
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CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- As the first direct peace talks in two years between Israeli and Palestinian leaders were launched in the United States, Pope Benedict XVI and Israeli President Shimon Peres met in a private audience. The two leaders expressed hopes that the renewal of direct talks in Washington would contribute to the "reaching of an agreement that is respectful of the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples and capable of bringing lasting peace to the Holy Land and the entire region," the Vatican said. The closed-door, 40-minute papal audience at the papal summer residence Sept. 2 was "cordial," the Vatican said in a written statement. Peres also met privately for 30 minutes with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations with states. "The condemnation of all forms of violence and the necessity of guaranteeing better conditions of life to all the peoples of the area were reaffirmed" during the meetings, the Vatican statement said. Discussions also included the role of interreligious dialogue and "an overview of the international situation," it said. Church-related issues such as an "examination of the relations between the state of Israel and the Holy See and those of the state authorities with the local Catholic communities" were also discussed, the Vatican statement said.
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