Vatican Recognizes State of Palestine
The agreement "aims to enhance the life and activities of the Catholic Church and its recognition at the judicial level", said Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, the Vatican's deputy foreign minister who led its delegation in the talks.
The agreement, which the Vatican said aimed to "enhance the life and activities of the Catholic Church and its recognition at the judicial level," comes days before Pope Francis is due to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Abbas is due to attend a Mass at the Vatican on Sunday to make saints of two 19th and 20th century Palestinian-born nuns.
A joint statement released by the Vatican said on Wednesday said the text of the treaty covering Church activities in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority, has been concluded and would be officially signed by the respective authorities "in the near future".
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on November 29, 2012 recognizing Palestine as an observer non-member state.
This was welcomed at the time by the Vatican, which has the same observer non-member status at the United Nations.
Signing the first agreement with Palestine, Vatican officials stressed that this agreement did not constitute the Holy See's first recognition of the State of Palestine.
"We have recognized the State of Palestine ever since it was given recognition by the United Nations and it is already listed as the State of Palestine in our official yearbook," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said.
Source: OnIslam.net
