On his arrival, Francis Peres renewed the invitation he made to Abbas for a joint visit to the Vatican. As he condemned the Brussels attack, he said that there was "no place for anti-Semitism in any of its forms". The pontiff also expressed "hope and prayer that this blessed land may be one which has no place for those who, by exploiting and absolutizing the value of their own religious tradition, prove intolerant and violent towards those of others."

Tel Aviv (AsiaNews) - Israelis and Palestinians have the right to live in peace and security in two "universally recognized" states, the pope said. Hence, "The 'Two State Solution' must become reality and not remain merely a dream." What is more, as its name indicates, Jerusalem must be a "city of peace".

On his arrival in Israel, the third and final leg of his journey to the Holy Land, the Holy Father was welcomed at Lod Airport by President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As he did with the Palestinian president, the pope told Israeli President Peres, "I offer my home in the Vatican" to pray together for peace.

After the welcome address by Israeli President Peres who quoted the Psalm, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord", the Holy Father spoke about peace. In his view, "The path of dialogue, reconciliation and peace must constantly be taken up anew, courageously and tirelessly. There is simply no other way."

And, for Francis, peace is tied to the memory of the Holocaust, especially in view after the recent "criminal attack", which the pontiff strongly condemned, against the Jewish Museum in Brussels in which three people were killed.

Indeed, "A particularly moving part of my stay will be my visit [tomorrow] to the Yad Vashem Memorial to the six million Jews who were victims of the Shoah, a tragedy which is the enduring symbol of the depths to which human evil can sink when, spurred by false ideologies, it fails to recognize the fundamental dignity of each person, which merits unconditional respect regardless of ethnic origin or religious belief. I beg God that there will never be another such crime, which also counted among its victims many Christians and others. Ever mindful of the past, let us promote an education in which exclusion and confrontation give way to inclusion and encounter, where there will be no place for anti-Semitism in any of its forms or for expressions of hostility, discrimination or intolerance towards any individual or people."

Likewise, the pilgrim pope also turned his thoughts to religious freedom, interfaith relations and Israel-Holy See ties. "In the footsteps of my predecessors," he noted, "I have come as a pilgrim to the Holy Land, rich in history and home to the principal events in the origin and growth of the three great monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. As such, it is of immense spiritual significance for a great part of humanity. So I express my hope and prayer that this blessed land may be one which has no place for those who, by exploiting and absolutizing the value of their own religious tradition, prove intolerant and violent towards those of others."

"As you know," he added, "I have come on pilgrimage to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the historic visit of Pope Paul VI. Since then, much has changed in the relationship between the Holy See and the State of Israel: diplomatic relations, established some twenty years ago, have favored the development of good relations, as witnessed by the two Agreements already signed and ratified, and a third which is in the process of being finalized," a clear reference to the protracted and difficult negotiations between Israel and the Holy See.

In his address, the pope focused again on peace. "During my pilgrimage to the Holy Land I will visit some of the most significant places in Jerusalem, a city of universal importance. Jerusalem, of course, means 'city of peace'. This is what God wills it to be, and such is the desire of all people of good will. Yet sadly, Jerusalem remains deeply troubled as a result of longstanding conflicts. We all know how urgent is the need for peace, not only for Israel but also for the entire region. May efforts and energies be increasingly directed to the pursuit of a just and lasting solution to the conflicts which have caused so much suffering."

"In union with all men and women of good will, I implore those in positions of responsibility to leave no stone unturned in the search for equitable solutions to complex problems, so that Israelis and Palestinians may live in peace. The path of dialogue, reconciliation and peace must constantly be taken up anew, courageously and tirelessly. There is simply no other way."

"And so I renew the appeal made in this place by Pope Benedict XVI: the right of the State of Israel to exist and to flourish in peace and security within internationally recognized borders must be universally recognized. At the same time, there must also be a recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to a sovereign homeland and their right to live with dignity and with freedom of movement. The "Two State Solution" must become reality and not remain merely a dream."

In concluding, the Holy Father offered a "warm and fraternal greeting" to the Christians living in the country, whom he encouraged "to persevere in their quiet witness of faith and hope in the service of reconciliation and forgiveness, following the teaching and example of the Lord Jesus, who gave his life to bring about peace between God and man, and between brothers. May you always be a leaven of reconciliation, bringing hope to others, bearing witness to charity! Know that you are constantly in my prayers."

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