Israel’s president received the new apostolic nuncio to Israel and Cyprus today, taking the opportunity to again extend an invitation to Benedict XVI to visit the Holy Land.
Israel’s president received the new apostolic nuncio to Israel and Cyprus today, taking the opportunity to again extend an invitation to Benedict XVI to visit the Holy Land.
Archbishop Antonio Franco, who will also serve as the apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine, presented his letters of credence today to Moshe Katzav.
The prelate replaces Archbishop Pietro Sambi, who has been appointed as apostolic nuncio to the United States.
In comments to Vatican Radio, Archbishop Franco said that during their conversation, “the president recalled the meeting he had with the Holy Father in the Vatican last November, and the invitation he gave him to come to Jerusalem, hoping that this can happen.”
Katzav “spoke afterwards of relations between the Holy See and Israel, which are at a good level,” said the nuncio. “He said that efforts and commitments of collaboration are underway.”
According to Archbishop Franco, the Israeli president said that “he hoped that there would be greater knowledge and appreciation of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration ‘Nostra Aetate,'” which marked a decisive change in relations between Catholic and Jews.
Archbishop Franco said that the Israeli president also mentioned the difficulties that have “arisen with the election of the Hamas government.”
“We have an emergency situation,” the president said.
Last Sunday, an Israeli soldier was taken prisoner. During the meeting with the new nuncio, Katzav asked if there “is a possibility to make an appeal for the release of this military man.”
Archbishop Franco replied that “we are following the situation and we will mobilize for humanitarian reasons.”
Fragile hope
The archbishop said that hopes for a dialogue of peace between Israelis and Palestinians “are very fragile, very, very poor.”
“I really hope this soldier can be freed, as otherwise sparks of repression might explode, and no one can foresee what might happen,” said the nuncio.
Archbishop Franco said that the Holy See launched an appeal to the international community to help the Palestinian population, which is going through serious difficulties. “We hope an answer will be given!”
In regard to Christian communities in the Holy Land, the nuncio acknowledged that they “suffer”: “They are certainly paying the bitter consequences of the situation, but they are a factor of moderation, as the position of Catholics is always to favor the quest for peace through dialogue and mediation.”
The papal delegate also confirmed the exodus of Christians from the Holy Land, explaining that it is a phenomenon caused by “many reasons” which “has lasted for a long time.”
For relations between Israel and the Holy See to be described as “completely satisfactory,” “new conventions are being elaborated” which seek to apply the Fundamental Agreement that allowed the establishment of diplomatic relations, said Archbishop Franco.
The nuncio added: “The president hoped that the elaborations might be accelerated to also improve some aspects which have repercussions on the local Church, on Christians living here. We are awaiting the next meetings.”
