"Great satisfaction" for agreement reached between the Vatican and Palestine and "hope" that negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis can resume marked the audience this morning between Francis and the President of the "State of Palestine".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Great satisfaction" for agreement reached between the Vatican and Palestine and "hope" that "courageous decisions" can help resume negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis marked the private audience this morning between the Pope to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The meeting between Francis and Abbas, who in a communique the Vatican describes as "President of the State of Palestine", reiterating the principle stated in the announcement of an agreement, was described by journalists present  as "warm". "You seem rejuvenated," said the Palestinian President on his arrival. And at the time of the exchange of gifts, in giving Abbas a medal of the pontificate imprinted with the figure of the angel of peace, the Pope said, "it destroys the evil spirit of the war", "I thought of you - he added -  that you may be an angel of peace. " For his part the President gave Pope Francis a depository with relics of the two Palestinian sisters, Marie Alphonsine Danil Ghattas and Mariam Baouardy, who will be canonized tomorrow. Abbas will attend the ceremony.

Regarding the private meeting and the subsequent meeting between Abbas and Card. Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State accompanied by Msgr. Paul Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States, a Vatican statement said that "during the cordial discussions” the two sides “expressed great satisfaction with the agreement reached on the text of a comprehensive agreement  between the Parties concerning essential aspects of the life and activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine, which will be signed in the near future".

"Subsequently, the peace process with Israel was discussed, expressing the hope that direct negotiations may resume between the parties to find a just and lasting solution to the conflict. For this purpose, the hope was  reiterated that, with the support of the international community, Israelis and Palestinians may make courageous bold decisions with determination for peace. Finally, with reference to the conflicts afflicting the Middle East, in reaffirming the importance of combating terrorism, the need for interreligious dialogue was underlined "

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