The Pope accepted the president of Israel at the audience. Leon XIV sided with peace and a two-state solution

On 4 September, Holy Father Leon XIV accepted the president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, at an audience at the Apostolic Palace – the Vatican Press Office said. Herzog besides met with the Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in the presence of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and global Organizations. The Pope and Vatican officials discussed the issues of the war in Gaza, the two-state solution, humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and, most importantly, the continuing presence of Christian communities in the Holy Land and the position of Jerusalem.

In a short note, the Vatican stressed “the hearty talks with the Holy Father and the Secretariat of State” during which “the issue of the political and social situation in the mediate East, where there are inactive many conflicts, with peculiar emphasis on the tragic situation in Gaza”.

It was added that the Holy See expressed its hope of "a swift reopening of negotiations so that, through good will and courageous decisions, as well as the support of the global community, hostages could be released, urgent accomplishment of a permanent ceasefire, making it possible to securely scope humanitarian aid to the most affected areas and warrant full respect for humanitarian law, as well as the legitimate aspirations of both nations." They besides discussed "how to warrant the future of the Palestinian people and peace and stableness in the region". The Holy See confirmed that “the only way out of the ongoing war is through a two-state solution.” Meetings discussed the situation in the West Bank and the position of Jerusalem.

At the same time, it was stressed that "an agreement was reached during the discussions on the historical importance of the relation between the Holy See and Israel", and that "a scope of issues concerning the relation between the state authorities and the local Church, with peculiar mention to the importance of Christian communities and their involvement, locally and throughout the mediate East, in human and social development, especially in the field of education, promotion of social cohesion and stableness in the region".

While Catholic media – reporting Herzog's gathering with the Pope – emphasize the issue of ending the war in Gaza and the Vatican's firm support for a two-state solution, Israeli media accentuate the issue of humanitarian aid for Palestinians and Christian presence in the region.

There are undoubtedly crucial negotiations going on with Israel and Ukraine, as shown by the strength of the meetings of planet leaders, as well as the Vatican diplomacy.

The 4 September Audience was the first gathering behind Leon XIV's closed door with 64-year-old Herzog, who has served as president of Israel since 2021. It was private.

In a post on the X portal after his gathering with Pope Herzog, he thanked Leon for his “heartwarming welcome to the Vatican” and pointed out that he looked forward to Israel's closer cooperation with the Holy See “for a better future, justice and compassion”.

The media besides argues that the Vatican message on Pope Leon's audience with Herzog was "longer and much more detailed than those which are usually issued after audiences with heads of state, repeated Pope Leon's regular public calls for reopening negotiations, permanent ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages, respect for humanitarian law and safe supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip".

The Vatican besides expressed its hope that the "justified aspirations" of both the Israeli and Palestinian people could be guaranteed. In addition, the situation in the West Bank and the "important issue of the city of Jerusalem" were mentioned, as well as the relations between the State authorities of Israel and the local Church.

Vatican diplomacy seeks to give global position to the city of Jerusalem, where the Latin patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaball, is simply a Catholic leader not only of Israel but besides of the Palestinian Territories: Gaza and the West Bank.

In July, during a visit by the patriarch to the city of Taybeh in the West Bank, Pizzaballa and another leaders of the Church, they stated that they held the Israeli authorities liable for the “facilitating and enabling” attacks on Palestinian Christians by Israeli settlers. In the Vatican, at a gathering with Herzog, representatives of the Holy See were to stress the issue of ensuring the continued presence of Christian communities throughout the mediate East.

Just before the visit, Herzog's office issued a message on September 2, which stated that the President's one-day visit to the Vatican was to be held at the invitation of Pope Leon XIV. The Vatican, however, denied this claim a fewer hours later, explaining that "The Holy See is in the habit of agreeing to the requests of the heads of state and government for an audience with the Pope; it is not in the habit of making invitations."

There is no uncertainty that the relations between the Vatican and Israel are strained and, in the current situation, Israel is striving for a strengthening of its image in view of the widespread condemnation it is encountering internationally due to action in the Gaza Strip. Pope Leon XIV consistently criticises the Israeli run in the Gaza Strip.

Leon's predecessor, Pope Francis, besides held a clear position on the matter, calling Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip "terrorism" and twice stated that what is happening there could be "genocide."

Pope Leon XIV, I keep greater restraint in my words, but consistently seeks to suspend arms, release hostages, supply immediate humanitarian aid, respect for the law and a two-state solution.

Vatican Media manager Andrea Tornielli published a editorial on Wednesday before Herzog's visit in which he called the Hamas attack on Israel of October 7, 2023 "inhuman". However, it stated that Israel's retaliation was "unproportional" and unethical. He besides pointed to the expansionist objectives of Israel's intervention, concluding that an Israeli show of force in the Gaza Strip might propose that Tel Aviv is heading for the complete extermination of the Palestinian people.

Herzog stressed in social media the determination to release Israeli hostages, engage in spiritual freedom for all religions, and promised to “continue efforts for peace, peace and stableness throughout the region”.

He assured that the country is arrogant of its Christian community and wants to warrant them safety and prosperity in the Holy Land and throughout the mediate East.

The Ambassador of Palestine to the Holy See of Issa Kassissieh noted that the gathering took place in “unordinary times” erstwhile “world leaders suffered a drastic defeat in stopping the war in the Gaza Strip”.

"Our despondent nation hopes and prays that His Holiness Pope Leon XIV will make a crucial contribution to bringing about justice and peace in the Holy Land," he said, inviting the Pope to visit Gaza and celebrate the Holy Mass in the Catholic parish of the Holy Family, which was late attacked by an Israeli tank.

Source: press.vatican.va, ewtnvatican.com, nationalnews.com, irishecho.com

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