Haaretz
Kislev 2, 5766
VATICAN CITY
- Pope Benedict XVI held talks on Saturday with Palestinian Authority
Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who expressed hope the pontiff would visit
Jerusalem.
"You will be very welcome in Jerusalem and all the holy
places," Abbas, speaking English, told the pope after their private
20-minute meeting, when journalists were allowed to witness their
goodbyes.
"Thank you very much," the pope replied. Both men were
smiling and appeared relaxed.
Last month, Israeli President Moshe
Katsav invited Benedict to Israel, and said he hoped the pope would visit
next year.
No details about Abbas' meeting with Benedict in the
pontiff's library were released immediately.
The Palestinian leader
scheduled a news conference for later in the afternoon in Rome.
The
Vatican news bulletin listed the meeting, which was expected to include a
review of Middle East tensions and peace prospects, without
comment.
One of the members in the Palestinian delegation presented
the pope with what was described as a "Palestinian passport." Instead of
listing a name, the document said "Vatican City State," officials said.
The delegate, who was not immediately identified by the Vatican, and the
pope chatted in German briefly as Benedict examined the
document.
Abbas' visit to the Vatican, which included separate
talks with the pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, was his
last major appointment of a three-day visit to Italy. Middle East peace
prospects were expected to be on the agenda of talks Saturday.
The
appointment at the Vatican was the last major appointment of a three-day
visit to Italy by Abbas.
Abbas vowed on Friday to end the violence
that marred primary elections across the Palestinian territories earlier
in the week. He also promised "security and transparency" in next month's
parliamentary elections.
On Friday, at a news conference with
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, Abbas praised Sharon, who recently
formed a new political party for the upcoming March 28 elections.
Abbas expressed confidence that the Israeli people would chose the
path of peace in the Israeli elections.