wfn.org | Vatican Summons Israeli, US Ambassadors

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Contact:
Fr. Raed Awad Abusahlia
P.O.Box 14152  Jerusalem  91141
Tel.  (972 2) 628.2323 / 627.2280
Fax  (972 2) 627.1652
Personal E-mail: nonviolence@writeme.com
Latin Patriarchate E-mail: Latinpat@actcom.co.il
Latin Patriarchate's Homepage: http://www.Lpj.org
"Nonviolence Homepage": http://go.to/nonviolence

Pope Opposes Terrorism, Humiliation of Palestinians, and Reprisals

JERUSALEM, April 4, 2002---In Rome yesterday Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director 
of the Vatican Press Office, released the following statement: 

"In the face of the worrying deterioration of the situation in the Holy Land 
and numerous appeals for aid that have reached the Holy Father from all 
sides, the Secretariat of State as well as the pontifical representation in 
Jerusalem have been in contact with the parties concerned. 

"On April 2, Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with 
States, summoned Ambassador Yosef Neville Lamdan of Israel, and, on April 3 
Ambassador James Nicholson of the United States, to discuss the dramatic 
situation in Bethlehem. 

"In various meetings, the position of the Holy See, authoritatively expressed 
by the Holy Father, John Paul II and reiterated in the public interventions 
of recent days, was reaffirmed: 

"1. unequivocal condemnation of terrorism, from whatever side it may come. 

"2. disapproval of the conditions of injustice and humiliation imposed on the 
Palestinian people, as well as reprisals and retaliation, which only make the 
sense of frustration and hatred grow. 

"3. respect for the United Nations resolutions, by all sides. 

"4. proportionality in the use of legitimate means of defense. 

"5. the duty for the parties in conflict to protect the sacred places, (which 
are) very significant for the three monotheistic religions and the patrimony 
of all of humanity. 

"At the same time, this morning, April 3, Msgr. Celestino Migliore, 
under-secretary for Relations of States, received Mohamad Ali Mohamad, 
director of the Delegation of the League of Arab States to the Holy See, to 
whom he has explained the position of the Holy See, insisting, in particular, 
on the necessity to put an end to indiscriminate acts of terrorism. 

"Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State, and the substitute, Archbishop 
Leonardo Sandri, have been in close contact with the Latin Patriarchate of 
Jerusalem and the religious communities of Bethlehem, conveying to them the 
Holy Father's complete solidarity in this painful moment." 

-end-