Issued by the Catholic Center for Studies and Media - Jordan. Editor-in-chief Fr. Rif'at Bader - موقع أبونا abouna.org

Published on Wednesday, 6 December 2017
Vatican: Palestinian delegation discusses impact of new US position on Jerusalem

Amman-en.abouna.org :

A Palestinian presidential delegation led by Shaykh Mahmoud Al-Habbash, adviser to Palestinian president, met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in the Vatican on Wednesday, December 6. The talks focused on US President Donald Trump's decision to change the status quo of Jerusalem and recognize it as the capital of Israel.

The two sides agreed that this decision is serious and that it will have a negative impact on the entire world and the region in particular.

The Palestinian delegation included adviser to the President Mr. Ziad Al-Bandak, Governor of Jerusalem Adnan Husseini, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Holy See Issa Kassissieh, and Counsellor of the Embassy Mr. Ammar Al-Nisnas.

His Holiness Pope Francis had earlier telephoned President Mahmoud Abbas. They exchanged views on this issue, and the Pope promised do his best in order to preserve Jerusalem in its capacity as a holy city for all.

The Pope met earlier with the Palestinian Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, headed by Shaykh Mahmoud Al-Habbash, after it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, whose president is Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, designed to establish a joint working group for dialogue.

During the meeting, the Holy Father emphasized that, “for the Catholic Church, it is always a joy to build bridges of dialogue with communities, individuals and organizations, adding that it was a particular joy to do so with Palestinian religious and intellectual leaders.”

The Pope remarked that The Holy Land was for Christians “the land par excellence of dialogue between God and mankind.” He also highlighted the fact that the culmination of this dialogue took place in Nazareth between the Angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary. He also expressed appreciation to President Mahmoud Abbas and his principled positions in support of justice and peace in the Holy Land.

At the end of the meeting, the Palestinian delegation presented the Star of Bethlehem Medal as a gift from the Palestinian president to Cardinal Tauran in appreciation of his stands and achievements with regards to interreligious dialogue and just peace.