Vatican hopes UN Palestinian vote brings peace

Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a celebration of Catholic education at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, London Friday Sept. 17, 2010. Pope Benedict XVI is on a four-day visit, the first-ever state visit by a Pope to Britain. (AP …

Regular Photo Size

Posted: 12/17/2012

By: Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has met with Pope Benedict XVI to thank him for supporting the recent U.N. resolution recognizing a Palestinian state.

Abbas chatted privately with Benedict for 25 minutes Monday and then met with the Vatican's top diplomats. Abbas gave Benedict a mosaic of the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, with the inscription saying it was presented by the "President of the state of Palestine."

The Vatican said the discussions referred to the Nov. 29 U.N. vote upgrading the Palestinians to the same status as the Holy See: nonmember state observer.

The Vatican had warmly welcomed the vote, and a Vatican statement said "it is hoped that this initiative will encourage the commitment of the international community to finding a fair and lasting solution" to the conflict.