Holy See marks 10th anniversary of "fundamental accord" with Israel Vatican, Dec. 31, 2003 (CWNews.com)

Vatican, Dec. 31, 2003 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican today marked the 10th anniversary of their "fundamental accord," which one Vatican official termed "a milestone in the history of relations between the Holy See and Israel."

The fundamental accord, signed December 30 of 1993, was the first juridical agreement between Israel and the Holy See. It paved the way for the establishment of full diplomatic relations several months later, on June 15, 1994.

Writing in L'Osservatore Romano, Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo-- the first apostolic nuncio in Israel-- remarked that despite the "numerous difficulties" of political and diplomatic life in the Holy Land, the provisions of the "fundamental accord" have withstood the test of time.

The Italian prelate, who served in Israel from 1994 through 1998, distinguished between the provisions of the fundamental accord-- which have always been respected, he said-- and the often frustrating diplomatic work involved in the peace process in the Holy Land. He observed that while many difficulties have arisen in other areas, the government of Israel has upheld its pledge to respect the integrity of the Catholic Church, and to preserve access to the shrines of the Holy Land.

The former nuncio added that in signing the accord, the Holy See had not abandoned its insistence that the city of Jerusalem should be government by a special statute, with international guarantees to ensure free access to believers of all religions.

Father David Jaeger, the spokesman for the Fransican Custody of the Holy Land, took a somewhat different perspective in an interview with Vatican Radio. Father Jaeger observed that the Israeli government has not yet settled claims regarding the economic rights of Catholic institutions in the Holy Land. In some cases, these institutions claim time-honored privileges, conceded by previous regimes, and confirmed by a UN resolution in 1947. "The state of Israel has to recognize, in a new agreement, the rights acquired by the Church in Israel and in the Holy Land over the course of centuries," the Franciscan spokesman argued.

Pope meets Israeli foreign minister 13 Dec 2004, CathNews

Pope John Paul II called for "concrete acts" from Israel and the Palestinians to break the current impasse in the peace process, during a meeting yesterday with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

The pope "insisted on the necessity to emerge from the current situation, as well as on the need for concrete acts for reconciliation by all," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls said.

Shalom also met Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and the Vatican's new foreign minister Giovanni Lajolo.

The meeting followed months of tense exchanges over Israel's construction of a security barrier in the West Bank.

"Both parties expressed their points of view on the road to follow to obtain peace in the Holy Land," during Thursday's talks, Navarro Valls said.

Israel reacted angrily last month when the pope called the barrier "a new obstacle to peace" and declared that the Middle East "does not need walls but bridges".

In Thursday's talks with Shalom, Vatican officials also discussed bilateral relations with the Jewish State, which began when the Holy See recognized Israel in 1993 and opened diplomatic ties the year after.

Israeli foreign minister meets Pontiff Vatican, Dec. 11, 2003 (CWNews.com)

HOLY LAND: CURRENT SITUTATION MUST BE RESOLVED 11-December-2003 -- Vatican Information Service VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2003 (VIS)

VATICAN CITY, DEC 11, 2003 (VIS) – Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See Press Office, released the following statement this afternoon:

“Today, December 11, 2003, the Holy Father John Paul II received in audience Silvan Shalom, minister of Foreign Affairs for the State of Israel. Afterward Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, secretary of the Section for Relations with States, met with Mr. Shalom.

“In the course of their conversations, the parties expressed their point of view on the path to follow in order to obtain peace in the Holy Land.

“In particular, the need to find a solution to the current situation was insisted upon, as well as the need for concrete acts of reconciliation on both sides.

“During the encounter, bilateral issues that concern the life of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land were examined in light of the commitments undertaken with the Fundamental Agreement of 1993.”

Pope, Israeli foreign minister meet, discuss Middle East tensions Dec-11-2004, Catholic News Service, NEWS BRIEFS

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II and Israel's foreign minister, Silvan Shalom, met privately at the Vatican Dec. 11 to discuss the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Shalom also met with Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state, the Vatican said in a statement. "In the course of the meetings, both sides expressed their points of view on the path to follow in order to obtain peace in the Holy Land," the Vatican said. The pope, the cardinal and the foreign minister agreed that a "way out of the current situation" must be found, and "concrete acts of reconciliation" by both Israelis and Palestinians are necessary, the Vatican statement said. Israel's foreign ministry said Shalom told the pope, "We all hope that peace will happen next year." The foreign minister said Israel is committed to reaching a peace agreement through direct negotiations with the Palestinians.

Israeli foreign minister meets with pope, assures pilgrims will have access to holy sites VICTOR L. SIMPSON, Associated Press Writer Thursday, December 11, 2003 (12-11) 07:39 PST VATICAN CITY (AP)

Israel's foreign minister told Pope John Paul II on Thursday that his government will do all it can to ensure that pilgrims have free access to holy sites during the Christmas season, the Israeli foreign ministry said.

The meeting between the pope and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom was the first high-level encounter between the two sides since John Paul criticized Israel's planned security barrier last month.

A Vatican statement said that in talks with the pope and a successive meeting with top Vatican officials, the two sides expressed their views on reaching peace in the Holy Land, particularly the need to get the stalled peace process moving.

Last Christmas, the Vatican complained to Israel about access to Manger Square in Bethlehem, the town where tradition holds Christ was born, because it was then under Israeli military occupation.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Jonathan Peled said in Jerusalem that "every effort will be made to facilitate and ease the arrival of pilgrims to Bethlehem."

Israel maintains a checkpoint just south of Jerusalem along the road to Bethlehem. Peled said manpower would be increased to allow tourists to pass quickly through the checkpoint, which controls traffic between Jerusalem and the West Bank.

"It's a goodwill gesture on the part of Israel. We appreciate and respect the wishes of all those who want to celebrate Christmas here. We think it's an interest we share with the Palestinians," Peled said.

About 110,000 tourists are expected to visit Israel this month, said Ami Etgar, general manager of the Israeli Incoming Tour Operator Association, a trade group representing local travel agents. The figure is up from 92,000 last year, he said, but well below the 180,000 visitors who came to Israel in December 1999, before the latest wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence.

"We all hope that peace will happen next year," the Foreign Ministry quoted Shalom as telling the pope, reiterating Israel's commitment to reaching an agreement with the Palestinians through direct negotiations.

ASIA/HOLY LAND - FRIARS TELL PILGRIMS: “COME, INVADE THE HOLY LAND!” COME TO BETHLEHEM FOR CHRISTMAS 04-12-03, Agenzia Fides - Agenzia della Congregazione per l'Evangelizzazione dei Popoli

Jerusalem (Fides Service) – An call for a “peaceful invasion” of the Holy Land 2003 has been launched by the Franciscans in Jerusalem, Holy Land Custodians. After news from travel agents that bookings for the Holy land are increasing, Christians living in the places where Jesus walked hope for a massive comforting presence of pilgrims this Christmas.

Fides received a message in which Father Ibrahim Faltas OFM, headmaster of Holy Land School and Mr Hanna J. Nasser, mayor of Bethlehem, welcome Christian visitors telling them not to be afraid: “Invade the Holy land for a few days at Christmas and let yourselves by won over by it cultural and human message. In this way you will offer a concrete and constructive contribution towards peace worth much more than a thousand words. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your solidarity with those in difficulty and to offer hope. You will express with facts your fraternal affection for the people of the Holy Land, and this will be for everyone an act of love and respect for the communities living here amidst so many difficulties ”.

The message recalls that Cardinal Martini, told the international community: “Rather than walls of cement or stones to divide, it is better to build a bridge of people which, while guaranteeing security on both sides, allows the two communities to communicate and grow in mutual understanding in daily life”.

(PA) (Fides Service 1/12/2003 Lines: 28 Words: 305)

PILGRIMS URGED TO VISIT HOLY LAND AT CHRISTMAS JERUSALEM, DEC. 4, 2003 (Zenit.org)

JERUSALEM, DEC. 4, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Franciscans in Jerusalem, Custodians of the Holy Land, have joined in launching a call for a "peaceful invasion" of the Holy Land.

Father Ibrahim Faltas, of the Order of Friars Minor, and Hanna Nasser, mayor of Bethlehem, relayed a message inviting Christian pilgrims to travel to the Holy Land.

"Invade the Holy Land for a few days at Christmas," they said in a statement to the Vatican's Fides agency, "and let yourselves by won over by its cultural and human message. In this way you will offer a concrete and constructive contribution towards peace worth much more than a thousand words."

Tourism, a mainstay of the local economy, has been devastated since the intifada, the Palestinian uprising, broke out three years ago.

"You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your solidarity with those in difficulty and to offer hope," the message of Father Faltas and Nasser said. "This will be for everyone an act of love and respect for the communities living here amid so many difficulties."

"With your presence as tourists and pilgrims, you would not be in any danger and you would do much to restore daily normality," the statement added.

ZE03120420

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Holy Land Franciscans hope for Bethlehem Christmas pilgrim rush CathNews 3 Dec. 2003

The Franciscan custodians of Catholic shrines in the Holy Land are seeking a "peaceful invasion" of pilgrims, specifically visitors to Bethlehem for Christmas.

The Fides news service reports an increase in the number of Christians planning trips to Bethlehem this year. It says Christians "living in the places where Jesus walked hope for a massive comforting presence of pilgrims this Christmas".

Holy Land Franciscan Fr Ibrahim Faltas, together with Bethlehem mayor Hanna J. Nasser, has assured potential Christian pilgrims that there is no need to be afraid.

"Invade the Holy Land for a few days at Christmas and let yourselves by won over by its cultural and human message," they told Fides. "In this way you will offer a concrete and constructive contribution towards peace worth much more than a thousand words."

The Israeli business website Globes is reporting that the Italian Bishops Conference has urged bishops to encourage the faithful to make pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

Globes cites figures to back its claim of an upsurge in Catholic tourism to Israel. During the period of January to October 2003, 19,445 visitors arrived from Italy, an increase of 48% over the same period last year. During the same period, 12,812 visitors came from Spain, which was 92% more than in the same period in 2002, and 29,271 tourists from Central and South America up 29% over the same period last year.

Pictured: Basilica of the Nativity, Bethlehem

Visit Bethlehem for Christmas, Franciscans in Holy Land urge Bethlehem, Dec. 02, 2003 (FIDES/CWNews.com)

Bethlehem, Dec. 02, 2003 (FIDES/CWNews.com) - The Franciscan custodians of Catholic shrines in the Holy Land have asked for a "peaceful invasion" of pilgrims-- specifically, visitors to Bethlehem for Christmas.

The Fides news service reports an increase in the number of Christians planning trips to Bethlehem this yea, and says that "Christians living in the places where Jesus walked hope for a massive comforting presence of pilgrims this Christmas."

Fides received a message in which Father Ibrahim Faltas OFM, headmaster of the Holy Land School; and Hanna J. Nasser, Mayor of Bethlehem, welcome Christian visitors, telling them not to be afraid: "Invade the Holy Land for a few days at Christmas and let yourselves by won over by its cultural and human message," they write. "In this way you will offer a concrete and constructive contribution towards peace worth much more than a thousand words."

The message recalls that Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, told the international community: "Rather than walls of cement or stones to divide, it is better to build a bridge of people."

ASIA/HOLY LAND - FRIARS TELL PILGRIMS: “COME, INVADE THE HOLY LAND!” COME TO BETHLEHEM FOR CHRISTMAS 1 Dec 2003 Jerusalem (Fides Service)

Jerusalem (Fides Service) – An call for a “peaceful invasion” of the Holy Land 2003 has been launched by the Franciscans in Jerusalem, Holy Land Custodians. After news from travel agents that bookings for the Holy land are increasing, Christians living in the places where Jesus walked hope for a massive comforting presence of pilgrims this Christmas.

Fides received a message in which Father Ibrahim Faltas OFM, headmaster of Holy Land School and Mr Hanna J. Nasser, mayor of Bethlehem, welcome Christian visitors telling them not to be afraid: “Invade the Holy land for a few days at Christmas and let yourselves by won over by it cultural and human message. In this way you will offer a concrete and constructive contribution towards peace worth much more than a thousand words. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your solidarity with those in difficulty and to offer hope. You will express with facts your fraternal affection for the people of the Holy Land, and this will be for everyone an act of love and respect for the communities living here amidst so many difficulties ”.

The message recalls that Cardinal Martini, told the international community: “Rather than walls of cement or stones to divide, it is better to build a bridge of people which, while guaranteeing security on both sides, allows the two communities to communicate and grow in mutual understanding in daily life”. “With your presence – the Friars said – as tourists and pilgrims you would not be in any danger and you would do much to restore daily normality. In your hearts every day should be Christmas towards those who suffer. Christmas is God’s loving mercy for humanity. Please come!”

(PA) (Fides Service 1/12/2003 Lines: 28 Words: 305)