CARDINAL CONDEMNS ISRAELI ARAFAT THREAT, CATHNEWS, 27 Apr 2004

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano has condemned a threat against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, urging the application of international law to the solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

"In what code of the world is such an action possible?" Cardinal Angelo Sodano asked on Saturday.

He was responding to statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon against the president of the Palestinian National Authority on Friday.

"Nations have created law even in times of war. Our civilization must go forward, not backward," the cardinal said.

"Where is legality in that region today?" the cardinal asked. "There are United Nations resolutions and they must be applied. We must not forget them. If we want legality, let us begin from there."

"We must not have two weight measures. International law is valid for Italy, for Iraq, for Israel and for Palestine," he said in statements published today by the Italian press.

SOURCE Cardinal Sodano Condemns Israeli Threat Against Arafat (Zenit 25/4/04)

Cardinal Sodano raps Israeli policies Rome, Apr. 26 (CWNews.com)

Rome, Apr. 26 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican Secretary of State has cautioned the government of Israel against assassinating Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano (bio - news) said that nothing in international law would allow military operations against Arafat. He was responding to public statements by Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, who has said that the Palestinian leader could be a legitimate target for military action.

"What sort of international legislation could allow such a thing?" Cardinal Sodano asked rhetorically during a meeting with Italian journalists on April 25. "Warfare has its own rules, but people have rights, even in time of war."

Cardinal Sodano said that a direct Israel move against Arafat would be a step backward for the rule of international law. "Our civilization must move forward, not backward," he said.

The Vatican has already reacted strongly against the Israeli assassinations of Palestinian leaders. After the March 22 killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the head of the Hamas terrorist movement, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said that the rocket attack was "an act of violence that cannot be justified in any state under the rule of law."

In order to restore respect for law in the Holy Land, Cardinal Sodano said, the first step must be respect for existing UN resolutions. "We cannot forget them," he said-- referring to UN calls for Israeli withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories. "If we wish for the rule of law, let's begin there!"

CARDINAL SODANO CONDEMNS ISRAELI THREAT AGAINST ARAFAT International Law Must Be Respected, Says Secretary of State VENICE, Italy, APRIL 25, 2004 (Zenit.org)

VENICE, Italy, APRIL 25, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Vatican Secretary of State condemned a threat against Yasser Arafat and said the solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict instead calls for the application of international law.

"In what code of the world is such an action possible?" Cardinal Angelo Sodano asked on Saturday. He was responding to journalists who asked him to comment on statements made Friday by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon against the president of the Palestinian National Authority.

Today, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and two other Israeli government ministers said Sharon has no immediate plans to assassinate Arafat.

"Nations have created law even in times of war. Our civilization must go forward, not backward," the cardinal said in an aside at the inauguration of the Marcianum General Study center.

"Where is legality in that region today?" the cardinal asked. "There are United Nations resolutions and they must be applied. We must not forget them. If we want legality, let us begin from there."

"We must not have two weight measures. International law is valid for Italy, for Iraq, for Israel and for Palestine," he said in statements published today by the Italian press.

In an official note March 22, Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro-Valls condemned the targeted killings of figures chosen by the Israeli army, such as Palestinian Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of the radical Islamic group Hamas.

Regarding the situation in Iraq, Cardinal Sodano said that now "is the time of solidarity. How can one not feel close to those peoples? This is the time to help Iraq. How can the Church forget this mission?"

"All movements ... of students, intellectuals, workers, should take up the banner of solidarity. I say it with my heart in my hand," he said.

In this connection, "the U.N. has its function," he added. "But the fact is that the U.N. is one word. It depends on what the 191 states want that form part of it and, in particular, what the states of the Security Council want, as it is the one that decides."

"If one state shuts itself up in a veto and another in another veto, the responsibility is of these nations," the cardinal said.

"The veto is already in itself something absurd," he added. "It should disappear, as it was the fruit of the postwar period. During the Cold War it might have had a function, but today it is an anachronism. Therefore, instead of talking of the U.N., I speak of the states that are members of the U.N."

Of the role the United Nations should exercise in Iraq, the cardinal said: "Let's let the technocrats decide. The Holy See cannot become involved in the area of concrete recipes."

Cardinal Sodano added: "There are many signs of hope on the horizon. It seems that many lights are lighting up. Let's hope that our great nations, rich in so much civilization, will be able to find a solution and it will be the task of Europe and of the United States to help Iraq."

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Cardinal sees major Christian role in Middle East Jerusalem, Apr. 23 (CWNews.com)

Jerusalem, Apr. 23 (CWNews.com) - Christians can help bring peace to the Middle East, Cardinal Camillo Ruini (bio - news)argues.

Cardinal Ruini, who is the Pope's vicar for the Rome diocese and the president of the Italian bishops' conference, spoke to the Italian daily La Repubblica from Jerusalem, where he is currently visiting at the head of an Italian delegation of pilgrims.

Observing that the entire region is "in flames," the Italian prelate said that Christians can bear witness to their faith by visiting, and giving the people of the Middle East a different image of the Western world. He said: "In these countries, Christians can serve as a bridge, because the Christian vision of life is founded on reconciliation, pardon, and peace."

To bring peace to the region, Cardinal Ruini continued, "it is essential to stop the bombings, and summary executions, the armed conflict." He added that negotiations should be resumed between Israel and Palestine, using the "road map" as the basis for talks, because "that remains the only possibility."

Cardinal Ruini also emphasized the importance of pilgrimages, as a means of providing support and encouragement for the Christians living in the Holy Land. He pointed out that in the Jubilee year 2000, more than 28,000 pilgrims from Rome visited the Holy Land; in 2002 there were only about 600. But in recent months, as Italian Catholics have made a concerted effort to encourage pilgrimages, 3,000 people from Rome have visited Jerusalem.

Cardinal sees major Christian role in Middle East Jerusalem, Apr. 23 (CWNews.com)

Jerusalem, Apr. 23 (CWNews.com) - Christians can help bring peace to the Middle East, Cardinal Camillo Ruini (bio - news)argues.

Cardinal Ruini, who is the Pope's vicar for the Rome diocese and the president of the Italian bishops' conference, spoke to the Italian daily La Repubblica from Jerusalem, where he is currently visiting at the head of an Italian delegation of pilgrims.

Observing that the entire region is "in flames," the Italian prelate said that Christians can bear witness to their faith by visiting, and giving the people of the Middle East a different image of the Western world. He said: "In these countries, Christians can serve as a bridge, because the Christian vision of life is founded on reconciliation, pardon, and peace."

To bring peace to the region, Cardinal Ruini continued, "it is essential to stop the bombings, and summary executions, the armed conflict." He added that negotiations should be resumed between Israel and Palestine, using the "road map" as the basis for talks, because "that remains the only possibility."

Cardinal Ruini also emphasized the importance of pilgrimages, as a means of providing support and encouragement for the Christians living in the Holy Land. He pointed out that in the Jubilee year 2000, more than 28,000 pilgrims from Rome visited the Holy Land; in 2002 there were only about 600. But in recent months, as Italian Catholics have made a concerted effort to encourage pilgrimages, 3,000 people from Rome have visited Jerusalem.

STUDY OF HISTORY FELLS BARRIERS BETWEEN PEOPLES, SAYS POPE Letter to Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences VATICAN CITY, APRIL 22, 2004 (Zenit.org)

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 22, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says that the study of the history of civilizations fosters peace and fraternity between peoples.

The Pope expressed this in the letter sent to Monsignor Walter Brandmuller, president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, on the 50th anniversary of this Vatican institution.

"The Church of Christ has a responsibility before man which in a certain sense encompasses the whole dimension of his existence," the Pontiff says in the letter published by the Vatican press office.

This is the reason why the Church has "always been committed to the development of human culture, favoring the quest for the true, the good and the beautiful so that man can respond ever better to the creative idea of God," he adds.

"There is nothing more inconsistent than men or groups without history. Ignorance of one's past leads fatally to crisis and the loss of identity of individuals and of communities," the Holy Father states.

John Paul II maintains that "historical research, free from prejudices and linked only to scientific documentation," has "an irreplaceable role to bring down barriers between peoples."

"Frequently, in fact, heavy walls have been raised through the centuries because of the partiality of historiography and of reciprocal resentment," he notes in the letter published Saturday. "The consequence has been that misunderstandings still persist today, which become an obstacle for peace and fraternity between men and nations."

"The overcoming of the boundaries of national historiography by a larger view of the geographical and cultural context could be of great help, as it would ensure a comparative view of events, allowing for a more balanced judgment," he concludes.

Pius XII established the pontifical committee on April 7, 1954, to promote the development of the historical sciences through international cooperation.

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VATICAN - At the Sunday Regina Cæli prayer the Pope says: “Jesus is our peace, because he is the perfect manifestation of Divine Mercy” - Appeal for the peoples of the Holy Land and Iraq: “I am especially close in thought and prayer to the families who fear for the safety of their loved ones, particularly those taken hostage”. 19 April, 2004 Vatican City (Fides Service)

Vatican City (Fides Service) - Peace, a gift of the Risen Christ, Divine Mercy Sunday, the serious situation in the Holy Land and in Iraq, and an appeal for the release of all hostages, were the main contents of Pope John Paul II’s when he led the recitation of the Regina Cæli prayer on Sunday 18 April. “On the day of his Resurrection, when he appeared to his disciples the Lord greeted them in this way: "Peace be with you!", and he showed them his hands and his side with the signs of the passion. Eight days later, as we read in today’s Gospel, he returned to the Upper Room to meet them and said again: "Peace be with you!". Peace is the gift par excellence of Christ Crucified and Risen - the Holy Father said before the Marian prayer -, the fruit of his love’s victory over sin and death. Offering himself, immaculate victim of expiation on the altar of the Cross, He poured over humanity the beneficial wave of Divine Mercy. Therefore Jesus is our peace, because he is the perfect manifestation of Divine Mercy.”

Recalling that on the Sunday after Easter we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, the Pope said: “The Lord sends us to carry to all his peace founded on forgiveness and remission of sins. It is an extraordinary gift which He wished to link with the Sacrament of penance and reconciliation. How humanity needs to experience the effect of God’s mercy in these times marked by growing uncertainty and violent conflicts!”

After leading the Regina Cæli prayer John Paul II asked those present to pray for the tragic situation in the Holy Land and in Iraq, and he appealed for the release of those held hostage with these words: “I follow with great sadness the tragic news coming from the Holy Land and Iraq. May the bloodshed of brothers cease! Such inhuman acts are contrary to God’s will. I am especially close in thought and prayer to the families who fear for the safety of their loved ones, particularly those taken as hostages. I call on the captors to have humanity. I beg them to render those in their hands to their families while I pray the all merciful God for the people of the Holy Land Iraq and for all in those regions working for reconciliation and peace.”

(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/4/2004 - Righe 26; Parole 385)

“Stop bloodshed of your fellow men!”, says pope Pope John Paul II launches appeal for hostages in Iraq, expresses “sadness” for the situation in the Holy Land. 18 April, 2004 VATICAN Vatican City (AsiaNews)

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – John Paul II asked the captors of the hostages in Iraq to show their “feelings for humanity” and to “give back the people in their hands to their families”.

Following the Regina Caeli prayer, dedicated to Christ’s mercy and forgiveness of his killers, the pope said he was “particularly near in thought and prayer to all those families who fear for the fate of their loved ones, especially those who have been taken hostage.”

“I urge their captors to show their feelings for humanity. I beg this of them while praying to the God of Mercy for the people of the Holy Land and Iraq as well as for all those working for peace and reconciliation is this region,” the pontiff said.

Three days ago the self-proclaimed “Mohammed’s Brigade” killed an Italian hostage, Fabrizio Quattrocchi.

There are around 40 total hostages still held captive in Iraq.

Last night Israeli missiles killed Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Al-Rantis in Gaza. The Hamas organization is the main source of all suicide attacks perpetrated against civilians and soldiers in Israel. John Paul II said he has followed “with great sadness the tragic news reported from the Holy Land and Iraq.”

“We must stop shedding the blood of our fellow men. Such inhuman actions go against God’s will,” he said.

Before the Regina Caeli prayer, which substitutes the Angelus during the Easter period, the pontiff delivered the following address (translation by AsiaNews):

“While up on the Cross, on Good Friday, Jesus left as His testament these words of forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke, 23,34). Tortured and mocked, he called upon God’s mercy for his killers. His open arms and pierced heart therefore have become the universal sacrament of God’s fatherly tenderness, granting pardon and reconciliation to one and all.

The day of His resurrection, the Lord appeared and greeted the disciples, saying “Peace be with you!”. He showed them his hands and sides still marked with the signs of his Passion.

Eight days later, as we read in today’s gospel, He returned to meet them in the same room of the Last Supper, saying once again: “Peace be with you!” (cf. John 20, 19-26)

Peace is the gift par excellence of the resurrected and risen Christ. It is the fruit of his victorious Love over sin and death. By offering himself up, as the immaculate victim of atonement while on the Altar of the Cross, He spilled forth a charitable wave of Divine Mercy for all humanity.

Hence, Jesus is our Peace. He is the perfect manifestation of God’s Mercy. He infuses God’s merciful love in man’s heart, a chasm always exposed the temptations of evil.

Today, Sunday in Albis, we celebrate God’s Divine Mercy. The Lord invites us to give His peace to everyone, a peace based on the forgiveness of sin. This is an extraordinary gift, which Christ wanted to tie to the sacrament of penance and reconciliation.

Mankind is in such great need of experiencing the efficaciousness of God’s mercy in this day and age marked by growing uncertainty and violent conflict!

Mary, Mother of Christ our Peace, who on Calvary received the testament of His Love, help us to be witnesses and apostles of His infinite mercy.

Jerusalem, Vatican church officials criticize Bush backing of Sharon 16 April 2004 JERUSALEM (CNS)

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- A Jerusalem Catholic official said the Palestinians' right of return to their homeland was a basic human right that cannot be taken away by the U.S. president and Israeli prime minister. Father Majdi al-Siryani, legal adviser to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said the right of return "is not something you can give and take away." "This is a basic human right, and I don't need anybody to recognize it," he said. The right of return is "not only a communal thing but also a right on the individual level." At an April 14 press conference in Washington, President George W. Bush surprised many by backing Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's proposal that Palestinian refugees should aim to be relocated inside a negotiated Palestinian state and should not return to the lands their families fled in 1948, when Israel was established as a Jewish state. Father al-Siryani noted that the Palestinian right of return has been recognized in two U.N. resolutions. "It is not for (Bush) to decide," Father al-Siryani said.

Pope appeals for release of hostages in Iraq, decries violence 15 April, 2004 VATICAN CITY (CNS)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II appealed to radical groups in Iraq to show "feelings of humanity" and release the hostages they are holding. At the same time, the pope deplored the "inhuman" violence in the Holy Land, the day after the leader of the Palestinian militant organization Hamas was assassinated in an Israeli missile attack. The pope made his appeal April 18 after reciting midday prayers from his apartment window overlooking St. Peter's Square. "I am following with great sadness the tragic news coming out of the Holy Land and Iraq," the pope said. "May the bloodshed among brothers end. Such inhuman acts are contrary to the will of God," he said. The pope said he joined in the prayers of families "who are fearful for their loved ones, especially those who have been taken as hostages."

Israeli government “snubs” Cardinal Moussa Daoud The Holy See hopes to take up negotiations again with Israel. 15 April, 2004 VATICAN - ISRAEL Jerusalem (AsiaNews)

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – The first official act of Cardinal Moussa Daoud’s Holy Land trip, his formal entry into the town of Bethlehem, was partially filled with obstacles set by the Israel army overseeing roads leading to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Hence his arrival was conducted differently than the pre-established protocol

This was, in fact, the first time a Roman Catholic cardinal was expected to arrive in Bethlehem in the same way as the formal entrance of Jerusalem’s Latin-rite Patriarch on Christmas Eve, that is, via the main road passing by “Rachel’s Tomb”, next to which prelates are received by Bethlehem and Bet Sahour town hall representatives together with a local parish priest and faithful.

For quite some time now, however, the Israeli army has blocked access to this road. Yet on the night before Christmas it is reopened to allow for the Patriarch’s formal entry into the town.

Wednesday morning, however, the energetic intervention of Vatican diplomacy and explanations did little to persuade the Israeli government to follow the traditional protocol. Even while armed with photos of the last formal entrance of Cardinal Daoud’s predecessor (that of Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, Prefect for the Congregation of Eastern Churches) on Dec. 7 1997. Consequently, in protest of the failed observance of local Church and town tradition, local goverment officials did not accept the Israeli army’s proposal to welcome the cardinal in other spot. Meanwhile Cardinal Daoud’s motorcade was seen taking an alternative route, not along the main and traditional one, to reach the Basilica of the Nativity.

Formal protests are expected to take place over the next few days, organized by local town governments and the Church. Information meetings with Jerusalem’s Consular Corps and other diplomatic officials are also foreseen.

When contacted by AsiaNews, Fr. David-Maria A. Jaeger, ofm, (the official spokesman for the Holy Land Custodian, whose responsibility is to receive and accompany the cardinal on visiting the Bethlehem sanctuary) expressed his “surprise and disappointment” for “the spontaneous choices made by military authorities.

He said they the army attempted to prevent the regular carrying out of a civil-religious rite which is normally seen as “joyous” event and “deeply rooted” in the local culture. He said the event is like the formal entrance of a "Prince of the Church " along the main rout into Bethlehem.

The protests following yesterday’s “snub” (as defined by the Church in Jerusalem) of Cardinal Daoud and his entourage as well as Church and town officials hope to influence the Israeli government not to behave this way again on the arrival of the new Custodian. Hence the goal is allow the rite to be conducted according to tradition.

The Custodian spokesman says he hopes that above and beyond what happened the event will serve as the “umpteenth proof” of the Israeli government’s need to return to the bargaining table with Holy See, relations which were “unilaterally abandoned Aug. 28 last year.”

Fr. Jaeger says that it is only by “reactivating the Commission’s permanent bi-lateral negotiations between the Holy See and the State of Israel that conflicts and misunderstandings will be avoided.”

The Israeli government is charge of working out stable and open agreements on all issues of Church-State relations.

The spokesman furthermore said that taking up talks again will permit the “building of correct rapports and timely coordination between the Catholic Church and the Jewish government”, which would be in the best interest of both parties.

Vatican official on solidarity visit to Jerusalem, 15 April 2004, CathNews

Cardinal Ignace Moussa Daoud arrived in Jerusalem yesterday for a five day visit designed to show solidarity with the Christians in the Holy Land.

The cardinal, who is the prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, quickly traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he was welcomed by the Franciscans who administer the Basilica of the Nativity.

Cardinal Moussa Daoud - a Syrian-rite Catholic who was the Patriarch of Antioch before his appointment to his current Vatican post - also met with Palestinian civil authorities and with representatives of other Christian groups in the region, including Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic clerics.

Yesterday afternoon, the cardinal returned to Jerusalem for a solemn visit to the Church of the Holy Speulchre. There, too, he was greeted by the Franciscans who are the official custodians of the shrine, and accompanied by Greek and Armenian Church representatives.

Later in the week the cardinal is due to meet with the Latin-rite Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, and with other leaders of the Eastern Catholic communities in the Holy Land. One Church leader in Jerusalem told AsiaNews that the visit by a ranking Vatican official was "a great pleasure to us" at a time when the Christian community in the Holy Land is facing serious trials, including a high rate of emigration.

Cardinal Moussa Daoud visit of “solidarity” to the Holy Land 14 April, 2004 ISRAEL - PALESTINE Jerusalem (AsiaNews)

Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – This morning at 9.00 a.m. Cardinal Moussa Daoud, Patriarch Emeritus of Syrian Catholics and Prefect of the Congregation of Eastern Churches, began his official visit to the Holy Land. “At such a difficult time for Catholics here in the Holy Land, a visit by an important Holy See official is a great pleasure to us. It is sign of care and eagerness,” local Church sources told AsiaNews.

Cardinal Moussa Daoud’s visit is being conducted according to strict protocol prescribed by the legal “status quo” regime in effect since Ottoman times.

At 9.00 a.m. the cardinal began the leg of his trip taking him from Jerusalem to Bethlehem where he will make his formal entrance in the Basilica of the Nativity. Welcomed and accompanied by Franciscan friars of the Holy Land Custodian, to whom the Catholic Church has entrusted the sanctuary’s care, the Cardinal has been greeted by Palestinian civil dignitaries and representatives from other Christian denominations as well as the Greek and Armenian Orthodox Churches –who will all be present at the Nativity church.

At 6.00 p.m., following a similar protocol, the cardinal will make his formal entrance in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Again he will be received and accompanied by Franciscan friars who have been entrusted with the care and officiation of this Christian holy site since 1342. Here too the cardinal will be greeted by representatives of the Greek and Armenian Orthodox Churches who share the sanctuary with the Catholic Church (as is the case with the Basilica of the Nativity).

During his stay in the Holy Land Cardinal Daoud, in charge of the ministry overseeing the territory, will have to meet with the Latin-rite Patriarch of Jerusalem, as well as with the Franciscan Holy Land Custodian and Eastern Church prelates. Courtesy calls are also scheduled to be made with Greek and Armenian Orthodox Patriarchs.

Vatican official on "solidarity" visit to Jerusalem Jerusalem, Apr. 14 (CWNews.com)

Jerusalem, Apr. 14 (CWNews.com) - Cardinal Ignace Moussa Daoud arrived in Jerusalem on April 14, for a 5-day visit that is designed to show solidarity with the Christians of the Holy Land.

The cardinal, who is the prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, quickly traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he was welcomed by the Franciscans who administer the Basilica of the Nativity.

Cardinal Moussa Daoud-- a Syrian-rite Catholic who was the Patriarch of Antioch before his appointment to his current Vatican post-- also met with Palestinian civil authorities and with representatives of other Christian groups in the region, including Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic clerics.

On Wednesday afternoon, the cardinal returned to Jerusalem for a solemn visit to the Church of the Holy Speulchre. There, too, he was greeted by the Franciscans who are the official custodians of the shrine, and accompanied by Greek and Armenian Church representatives.

Later in the week the cardinal is due to meet with the Latin-rite Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, and with other leaders of the Eastern Catholic communities in the Holy Land. One Church leader in Jerusalem remarked to the AsiaNews service that the visit by a ranking Vatican official was "a great pleasure to us" at a time when the Christian community in the Holy Land is facing serious trials, including a high rate of emigration.

Bush and Powell to urge Sharon to return to talks with the Holy See AsiaNews.it 14 April, 2004 (CWNews.com)

Washington (AsiaNews) - The meeting between Colin Powell and Ariel Sharon, planned for tomorrow (Thursday) should have on the agenda not only relations between Israelis and Palestinians, but also the relations between Israel and the Catholic Church, the Holy See. Accoding to sources of AsiaNews in Washington, it is possible that also President Bush himself, in his meeting with Mr. Sharon has made reference to the interruption in the negotiations between Israel and the Holy See.

AsiaNews has learnt that on 23 March the Chairman of the international relations commitee of the US House of representatives, Henry Hyde, a devout Catholic and one of the most influential statesmen of the Republican Party (which hold majorities in both the House and the Senate, as well as being President Bush's own Party) wrote officially to Secretary of State Colin Powell to ask that the US obtain Israel's return to the negotiations with the Holy See, negotiations that teh Israeli government deserted unilaterally on 28 August last year. Chairman Hyde's letter, while not officially released, was in part quoted by the well known conservative columnist Robert Novak on 1 April. It has been followed by other initiatives, all in the same direction, with messages addressed by Catholic authorities both to the Administration and to Israel's Ambassador in Washington.

A catholic jurist, close to the negotiations abandoned by the Israeli government, has explained to AsiaNews that an intervention by the United States would be more than justified, indeed "a duty".

Years ago the US government insistently asked the Holy See to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. That it exercised such persuasion on the Holy See was revealed by Thomas Melady, former US ambassador to the Holy See. Such a move (establishing diplomatic relations with Israel) was also favoured by many US Jewish organizations and by American Catholic circles. Therefore now, the expert has said, the "United States may have a political and moral duty to convince Israel to honour its agreements with the Catholic Church". He adds: On the eve of the US elections, given the importance President Bush assignis to the Catholic vote, the concerns of the Church, supported by eminent Republican statesmen like Hyde, may well be reflected in teh conversations between the US and Israel".

Middle East Peace Requires New U.S. Steps United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 1WASHINGTON (April 14, 2004)

Israeli Commission searching for solution regarding visas for religious personnel 13 April, 2004 ISRAEL - VATICAN Vatican City (AsiaNews)

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – There will soon be a solution to the problem regarding visas for foreign religious personnel serving in Israel.

The Israeli Embassy to the Holy See sent an official note to AsiaNews in which it said “Directors and workers of various ministries... together with Israel’s Ambassador to the Holy See have pointed out the need to resolve shortly this complex and delicate situation.” The statement says “immediately after Easter procedures will be sped up to unfreeze the pile of (idle) paperwork."

The news released some weeks ago by AsiaNews reported the difficulties male and female Catholic religious personnel experienced who, after years living in Israel, are now being treated like “illegal immigrants”. This is so on account of their visa renewal requests not being taken into consideration by Israel’s Interior Ministry.

The Israel embassy statement specifies that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon himself had called for the formation of an “Inter-Ministerial Commission” to “review criteria, rules and necessary timelines… as well as the whole bureaucratic process” that led to delays in issuing the visas.

The Inter-Ministerial Commission includes representatives from the ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Interior, Justice and Tourism. The Commission had met on various occasions last February.

The Commission’s conclusions have now been released to various ministries.

The last meeting took place on April 5 at the Ministry of the Interior. Discussed at the meeting was the new procedure which includes reducing bureaucratic procedures, shortening security checks, revising visa categories (such as for priests, volunteers, temporary workers, scholarship study abroad holders, etc.). For religious who have lived a while in Israel ‘there will be a suitable status found permitting their stay” in the country.

The Israeli Ambassador to the Holy See, Oded Ben Hur, assured to AsiaNews that the change in procedure will bear its effects “within 7-10 days”.

The embassy’s note stresses “the great importance” the Israeli government gives to “strengthening good relations between Israel and the Christian world, particularly with Catholics and the Holy See.” The note also says that “the Apostolic Nuncio in Israel will be updated on every decision made and discussed concerning visas”.

When commenting on the note Church sources in Jerusalem told AsiaNews, “We hope this time the promises –repeated so many times over the last two years –will really be kept.”

In Easter message, pope calls for peace in Iraq, Holy Land, Africa 12 April 2004 VATICAN CITY (CNS)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Offering his Easter blessing and prayers, Pope John Paul II called on world leaders to resolve ongoing conflicts in Iraq, the Holy Land and parts of Africa. In his April 11 message, broadcast to millions of people around the world, the pope also urged national and international institutions to work toward "a more effective and peaceful world order." He said, "May world leaders be confirmed and sustained in their efforts to resolve satisfactorily the continuing conflicts that cause bloodshed in certain regions of Africa, Iraq and the Holy Land." The pope said religion should be the foundation for peace, not war. He called on "all those who consider themselves children of Abraham" -- Christians, Jews and Muslims -- to "rediscover the brotherhood they share," and he asked that God prompt "in them designs of cooperation and peace."

Vatican presses Israel on visa policy Vatican, Apr. 12 (CWNews.com)

The Vatican's diplomatic representative in the Holy Land has stepped up the pressure for Israel to stop blocking the renewal of visas for missionaries.

"I sincerely hope for the renewal of entry visas and residency permits for all the religious personnel seeking to come to, or stay in, Israel," Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the papal nuncio in Jerusalem, told Vatican Radio on April 11.

Vatican officials have expressed mounting concern about the Israeli policy blocking visas for foreign priests and religious-- a policy that seems clearly to violate the terms of Vatican agreements with the Israeli government. For the past two years, missionaries have not been able to secure new visas, and the archbishop said that the policy creates the impression "that Israel wants to limit the Christian presence in the Holy Land."

Archbishop Sambi reported that Israel's new interior minister has promised, on several occasions, that the problem with visas will be resolved. "Now it is time to resolve it, if he has the political will," the nuncio said. A resolution, he continued, would mean "not making promises, but giving visas."

The nuncio observed that some of the clerics seeking to enter the Holy Land come from countries that Israel views as hostile, such as Syria. But the archbishop insisted: "Catholics religious personnel are not anyone's enemies." Their role in the Holy Land will be simply to fulfill the needs of the Church, he said.

The archbishop said that Israel's current policy is bound to create resentments, and hurt Israel's standing with other nations. He said that a quick resolution of the visa problem would be "an indispensable step for good relations among Israel, the local Church, and the Holy See."

APOSTOLIC DELEGATE IN JERUSALEM PROTESTS LACK OF VISAS Religious and Priests Facing Difficulties VATICAN CITY, APRIL 8, 2004 (Zenit.org)

JERUSALEM, APRIL 8, 2004 (Zenit.org).- A papal representative in Jerusalem has presented a complaint to Israel's interior minister and foreign minister about the visa problems of priests and religious in the Holy Land.

On Wednesday, the newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported an incident with Israeli border policewomen who were inspecting the documents and residence permits of 23 Catholic women religious in Jerusalem's Malhala shopping center.

The police obliged the nuns, headed by the 70-year-old superior of the convent, to stand with their faces against the wall while being inspected, as they did not have the required permits because the Ministry of the Interior has delayed in issuing them.

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic delegate in Jerusalem, presented a complaint to Interior Minister Abraham Poraz and to Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

The archbishop stated in his complaint that the delay in processing the permits affects the religious of the Church throughout the country.

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry explained that it is a question of religious who arrive from Arab countries. For security reasons, their documents take longer to process, the aide said.

Two weeks ago, the immigration police detained a Franciscan friar of Polish nationality, and were about to expel him from the country, as was the case of hundreds of religious without residence permits, despite the fact that he explained to the officers that he was awaiting the extension of his expired permit.

The expulsion was avoided thanks to the intervention of the Foreign Ministry, the newspaper reported.

Sources of that ministry told the newspaper that "the problems have been aggravated lately."

Gadi Golan, in charge of the Division of Worship in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, acknowledged that the criticisms are becoming a source of concern. According to sources of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, Israel has refused to grant residence permits to 130 priests.

A few days ago, the newspaper Haaretz reported that, in response to the Holy See's protests, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has appointed an interministerial commission to resolve the problems.

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JOHN PAUL II DONATED $6.5 MILLION IN AID IN 2003 For Emergencies and Development VATICAN CITY, APRIL 7, 2004 (Zenit.org)

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 7, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II allocated $6.5 million last year for the development of needy communities and to relieve sufferings caused by sickness, war and natural catastrophes.

The allocation is reflected in the 2003 Report published by the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," the Vatican organization entrusted with distributing the Pope's charity funds, donated by people worldwide.

John Paul II allocated $822,465 for emergencies, as follows:

-- $162,000 for victims of earthquakes in Algeria, El Salvador, Iran, Turkey and Uganda.

-- $243,000 for victims of floods in Argentina, Bolivia, Fiji, Guatemala, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

-- $241,473 for victims of war in Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria and Congo.

-- $59,304 for victims of drought and famine in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Moldova.

-- $91,688 for refugees and emigrants in Algeria, Angola, Haiti, the Central African Republic and Uganda.

-- $25,000 for AIDS victims in Malawi and Romania.

The "Cor Unum" report says the Pope allocated $858,223 for "communal human promotion," as follows:

-- $93,260 for social assistance and health care in Brazil, India, Israel, Ukraine and Vietnam.

-- $205,384 for children's needs in Brazil, Chile, Ghana, India, Mongolia, the Central African Republic, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uganda and Vietnam.

-- $103,200 for formation in Belarus, Brazil, Colombia, India, Mozambique, Nigeria, Congo, Rwanda and Sudan.

-- $86,364 for agriculture and food in Nigeria, Peru, Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

-- $152,840 for the reconstruction and restoration of housing in Angola, Cameroon, Croatia, Ethiopia, Jerusalem, Haiti, India, Kenya, Libya, Lithuania and Romania.

-- $188,175 for socio-pastoral activities in El Salvador, Finland, Jerusalem, Ghana, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Congo and Vietnam.

-- $14,000 for assistance to women in Angola and Cameroon.

-- $14,000 for assistance to women in Angola and Cameroon.

-- $15,000 for the elderly in Uganda.

"Cor Unum" allocated 2,474,307 euros ($3 million) to help victims of drought and desertification in the African region of the Sahel.

This aid, channeled through the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, established by the Pope in 1984, has funded 235 projects in Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal.

Finally, on behalf of the Holy Father, "Cor Unum" allocated $1,843,200 to Indian, Mestizo and Afro-American needy peasants of Latin America.

The "Populorum Progressio" Foundation, set up by the Pope in 1992, distributes these funds.

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Cardinal encourages pilgrimages to the Holy Land, CathNews 7 Apr 2004

Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches Cardinal Ignace Moussa Daoud has called for Catholics adopt an attitude of "prudent determination" in the face of danger, and travel to the Holy Land.

He told Vatican Radio on Tuesday that trips to the Holy Land can bring hope to the Christians living there. He said Palestinian Christians are tempted to emigrate because of the violence and discrimination that surrounds them, and they "face the future with uncertainty."

He argued that the world's Christians should come to their aid, because "we must not resign ourselves to the prospect of a Holy Land without Christians."

Cardinal Moussa Daoud had been asked by Vatican Radio to comment on the annual appeal for financial help for the Church in the Holy Land, an appeal that is traditionally made during Holy Week. He replied that financial help was useful, but visits by Christians from other countries would be an even more powerful form of help.

The Syrian cardinal said that Israeli and Palestinian authorities recognise the importance of religious tourism, which furnishes a large portion of the revenue for some towns in the Holy Land. He pointed out that "for the security of pilgrims, some guarantees have been made by the parties to the conflict."

Those guarantees have not always been honoured. Vatican officials have sharply criticised the Israeli government in recent weeks for barring pilgrims from shrines on Palestinian territory - allegedly on grounds of "national security."

Prelate urges pilgrimages to the Holy Land , Vatican, Apr. 06 (CWNews.com) Catholic World News

Vatican, Apr. 06 (CWNews.com) - The prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches has called for more pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

While acknowledging that many Christians are fearful about a visit to the volatile region, Cardinal Ignace Moussa Daoud said that the faithful should plan pilgrimages "with prudence but with determination." Trips to the Holy Land, he said, could bring hope to the Christians living there.

Speaking on Vatican Radio on April 5, Cardinal Moussa Daoud reminded listeners that the Christians of the Holy Land are tempted to emigrate because of the violence and discrimination that surrounds them, and they "face the future with uncertainty." He argued that the world's Christians should come to their aid, because "we must not resign ourselves to the prospect of a Holy Land without Christians."

Cardinal Moussa Daoud had been asked by Vatican Radio to comment on the annual appeal for financial help for the Church in the Holy Land-- an appeal that is traditionally made during Holy Week. He replied that financial help was useful, but visits by Christians from other countries would be an even more powerful form of help.

The Syrian cardinal said that Israeli and Palestinian authorities recognize the importance of religious tourism, which furnishes a large portion of the revenue for some towns in the Holy Land. He pointed out that "for the security of pilgrims, some guarantees have been made by the parties to the conflict." Those guarantees have not always been honored. Vatican officials have sharply criticized the Israeli government in recent weeks for barring pilgrims from shrines on Palestinian territory-- allegedly on grounds of "national security."

"The Christians of the Holy Land are asking for help to overcome the isolation that pressed upon them," the cardinal said. He praised the Italian Catholic community for continuing to organize pilgrimages, and remarked that other countries could do the same, planning pilgrimage on a diocesan or national level.

The Christian population of the Holy Land has been dwindling steadily since the creation of the Israeli state in 1947. At that time, Christians represented about 28 percent of the population; today they make up barely 2 percent.

Holy Land procession draws fewer pilgrims in era of intifada NEWS BRIEFS Apr-6-2004, By Catholic News Service

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Although the annual Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem attracted a smaller crowd than in the years before the intifada, several thousand pilgrims were able to participate in the annual trek. Israeli police flanked the April 4 procession, while Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah brought up the rear. Several groups of pilgrims from Germany, Italy, France and Hong Kong participated in the procession; their music and song intertwined with the Arabic hymns sung by local Catholics. In past years, the procession attracted some 10,000 people, including many foreign pilgrims. "This is the land of the Bible; it is the land of Jesus," said Ortrua Kniezel, 68, a Catholic from Cologne, Germany. "This is not the first time I have come here, so I am not afraid."

Papal nuncio urges Christian pilgrims to visit Holy Land NEWS BRIEFS Apr-5-2004, JERUSALEM (CNS)

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The papal nuncio to Israel and the Palestinian territories is urging Christian pilgrims to visit the Holy Land as "disciples of Christ, witnesses of peace and agents of human solidarity." "Come to the Holy Land, the Christians here are waiting for you; the Israelis and Palestinians are waiting for you," said Archbishop Pietro Sambi during an April 1 reception hosted by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism. The archbishop said a pilgrimage to the Holy Land would be "a gift for the Palestinian and Israeli people" and a "great gift" for those making the pilgrimage. "There is such spiritual elevation for (pilgrims) ... only at the end of the pilgrimage can they realize how enlightening it was," Archbishop Sambi said. The archbishop said that during the Easter and Passover seasons, Christians and Jews should "join energies" to bring about peace in the Holy Land.

MIDEAST PEACE REQUIRES RESTART OF DIALOGUE, SAYS POPE Calls on the World Community to Exert Pressure VATICAN CITY, APRIL 2, 2004 (Zenit.org).-

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 2, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II says the international community has the responsibility to exert pressure to rekindle Palestinian-Israeli dialogue in order to halt the "infernal cycle" of Mideast violence.

The Pope spoke out again today about the "terrible conflict that continues to crush" the Holy Land, when he received the credentials of Naji Abi Assi, Lebanon's new ambassador to the Holy See.

"The international community cannot flee from its responsibilities with the pretext of other urgencies, but must assume them courageously," the Holy Father said.

The world community must invite "all the parties in dispute, especially Israelis and Palestinians, to renew the dialogue without delay to provide the means that will put an end to the infernal cycle of reciprocal violence," he added.

"This is the necessary condition for a global solution of the conflict which must involve all the countries of the region," the Pope said.

"A lasting peace will not be able to be re-established in this region without political courage, without the firm determination to recognize the rights of all, including those of the adversary, in order to undertake with him the path to peace, in respect of justice," the Holy Father continued.

This also calls for "acceptance of recourse to mutual forgiveness to heal the terrible wounds inflicted by mutual violence during such long years at the cost of so many broken lives," he said.

The Pope concluded: "May political leaders listen to this appeal to work actively and without delay to renew ties, at the service of the long-awaited re-establishment of peace!"

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Vatican impatience with Israeli visa policy Vatican, Apr. 02 (CWNews.com)

Vatican, Apr. 02 (CWNews.com) - In a sign of mounting tensions between the Vatican and Israel, a cardinal has denounced the treatment of Catholic missionaries in the Jewish state.

Cardinal Roberto Tucci, in an April 2 talk on Vatican Radio, said that Catholic priests and religious are being treated as "clandestine immigrants" because the Israeli government refuses to renew their visas, in an apparent violation of the "fundamental accord" between the Holy See and Israel.

"The Israeli government has a lot of concerns these days, but by blocking the issuance of residency permits for monks and nuns, they are posing serious problems for the Catholic in Israel and the Palestinian territories," the cardinal said. Cardinal Tucci, the honorary president of Vatican Radio, is a seasoned diplomat, having served for years as the "advance man" who arranged the details of papal trips abroad.

For the past two year, Catholic missionaries living in Israel have found that their applications for visa renewals are being blocked. As more and more missionaries saw their visas expire before a renewal was granted, the situation became a matter of urgency. By March 2004, at least 130 priests and religious were living in Israel without legal permission.

While the Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem has 78 diocesan priests, there are more than 1217 Franciscans working in the Holy Land, along with over 100 other religious congregations accounting for nearly 2,000 monks and nuns. Nearly all of these religious orders include missionaries from other countries, so the pastoral work of the Church in Israel and the Palestinian territories relies heavily on foreign missionaries.

Church authorities point out that under the terms of their 1993 pact with the Holy See, Israeli authorities are pledged to cooperate with the missionary activities of Catholic institutions; they see the new visa policy as a contravention of that agreement.

The cardinal observed that Catholic missionaries living in Israel, when they are denied visa renewals, are forced to live as illegal immigrants. "This is a grave situation that worsens day by day," he said. He added that Vatican concerns are heightened by the fact that the Israeli policy has not been explained, and there are no "institutional channels for dialogue" on the subject.

"I hope that the Western churches-- European and American-- will exercise pressures to help the Church in Israel and the Palestinian territories," Cardinal Tucci said.

Pope urges end to 'infernal cycle of mutual violence' in Holy Land 2 April 2004VATICAN CITY (CNS)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II urged the international community to take necessary steps to end the "infernal cycle of mutual violence" in the Holy Land. At the same time, the pope said the increase in global terrorism underscored the need for reform of the United Nations, in order to strengthen its peacekeeping role around the globe. He made the remarks April 2 in accepting the credentials of the new Lebanese ambassador to the Holy See, Naji Abi Assi. The pope said that in the face of more than half a century of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians the international community "must not flee from its own responsibilities under the pretext of dealing with other pressing situations." He said Palestinians and Israelis must be pressured to undertake a real dialogue and show political courage in negotiating a solution that respects the rights of all sides.

Israel-Palestine conflict seen as key to Middle East Vatican, Apr. 01 (CWNews.com)

Vatican, Apr. 01 (CWNews.com) - "The Holy see is convinced that the Israeli-Palestinian crisis is the mother of all the crises in the Middle East." That remarkable statement was made by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, formerly the top foreign-policy officer at the Vatican, on March 31.

Cardinal Tauran-- who stepped down earlier this year as the Secretary for Relations with States, and is now the Vatican archivist-- was speaking at a reception in Rome, held to unveil a new book by Jim Nicholson, the US ambassador to the Holy See. The French-born cardinal said that the situation in the Holy Land was "at the center of all the conversations that John Paul II, his Secretaries of State, and their colleagues have had with American authorities in recent years."

Emphasizing that he was now speaking for himself, Cardinal Tauran said that Israeli and Palestinian leaders must resume negotiations, with the help of the international community. If a successful peace agreement could be concluded, he said, it would "transform the region entirely." Peace in the Holy Land, he continued, would allow for economic growth, the development of democratic structures, and "it could eliminate the motivation to violence for extremists who feed on despair." A peace accord would also stop the exodus of Christians from the Holy Land, he remarked.

Asked later to compare the position of the Holy See with US foreign policy regarding the Holy Land, Cardinal Tauran said that they were "substantially the same." But he quickly went on to say that the American approach lacks "an understanding of law and of history." He also observed that the Vatican takes a special interest in preserving the shrines of the Holy Land, while American policy is strongly affected by the US alliance with Israel and the lobbying pressure exerted by American Jewish groups. Cardinal Tauran wrote one of the prefaces to Nicholson's new book, The Long Road; the other was written by US Secetary of State Colin Powell. At the inaugural press conference, while he praised the American envoy, the cardinal expressed regret that Nicholson's book did not focus on the struggle in the Holy Land. The Long Road concentrates instead on negotiations between Washington and Rome regarding the war in Iraq.