Visit of President Rivlin to the Vatican

Pope Francis received President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, in the Vatican on Thursday, November 15, 2018. According to the Vatican, their discussions–which took place around the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations–were cordial, and highlighted the positive relations between the Holy See and State of Israel. The statement of the Holy See Press Office noted that with regard to the state authorities and the local Catholic communities, “the hope was expressed that suitable agreements may be reached in relation to some issues of common interest.”

“Mention,” it stated, “was made of the importance of building greater mutual trust in view of the resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians so as to reach an accord respecting the legitimate aspirations of both peoples, and of the Jerusalem question, in its religious and human dimension for Jews, Christians and Muslims, as well as the importance of safeguarding its identity and vocation as ‘City of Peace.’”

“Finally,” the Vatican stated, “attention turned to the political and social situation in the region, marked by different conflicts and the consequent humanitarian crises. In this context, the parties highlighted the importance of dialogue between the various religious communities in order to guarantee peaceful coexistence and stability.”

A complete report can be found on the Zenit site:

https://zenit.org/articles/pope-meets-israels-president-rivlin-in-vatican/