Pope John Paul II, meeting Palestinian President Yasser Arafat yesterday, endorsed the Middle East peace deal.
In a statement issued after a private meeting between the Pope and President Arafat at the papal summer residence of Castelgandolfo, south of Rome, the Vatican expressed the hope that the agreement would bring peace to the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
"The Holy See, in expressing its satisfaction and hope in the new accord, can do no less than encourage all sides to continue with the process which is of great importance for the peace of both peoples," he said.
President Arafat, of course, is no stranger to the Holy See, with yesterday marking his eighth audience with John Paul II.
Once more, the Palestinian leader took the opportunity to reissue a long standing invitation for the Pope to visit the Palestinian territory and in particular Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. By way of reply the Pope replied: "I hope, I hope".
For over a decade now, the Pope has made no secret of his desire to visit the biblical Holy Land sites. Following yesterday's audience, sources close to President Arafat expressed the view that such a visit will now definitely take place, probably in March 2000.
The Vatican spokesman, Mr Joaquin Navarro-Valls, also expressed the Holy See's satisfaction that yesterday's meeting helped clear up juridical questions re the status of the Catholic church in the Palestinian territory in particular with regard to tax matters and Church property.