Vil pavebesøket hjelpe fredsprosessen i Midtøsten?

Responses from Cardinal Silvestrini and Experts

ROME, MAR 16 (ZENIT.org).- In the opinion of Cardinal Achille Silvestrini, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Oriental Churches, the situation in the Middle East is changing, and John Paul II's visit could give decisive impetus to the peace process. The Cardinal spoke yesterday at a press conference in Rome to present the book, "The Holy See and Palestine," (Ed. Studium), published in Italian by Andrea Giovannelli.

At the press conference, which was held in the Press Office of the Italian agency responsible for the organization of the Jubilee, Cardinal Silvestrini explained that the situation is evolving. "Today we can say that the desire for peace is very profound." Therefore, the Pope's visit is very timely. He will most likely "make an appeal for peace among the great monotheist religions. Times change and we must confidently state that things are moving."

However, Igor Man disagreed with the Cardinal's point of view. Man is one of the leading European experts on the history and current situation of the Middle East. "To think that the Holy Father's trip is going to give impetus to the peace process is an illusion," he said. Jerusalem is a city "that the whole world would like for itself, and that is why its history is bathed in blood." The Israeli government "will try to maneuver it so that it will be established once and for all, that Jerusalem is indivisible and the capital of the State of Israel."

Andrea Riccardi, historian and founder of the St. Egidio Community, explained that in Palestine, "authorized sources speak of the existence of three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam; but two peoples, the Palestinians and Hebrews," as the vast majority of Christians identify with the national destiny of the Palestinians.

However, Bruno Bottai, Italian ambassador at the Vatican, said there is a third group of people that exists in that land: the pilgrims, not just Christians, but also those of the other religious. In a word, the holy places are loved by the devout of the three religions and, therefore, must be valued.

"If the Holy land is considered today as the spiritual patrimony of the whole of humanity, we owe it to the Custody" of the Franciscan friars, Cardinal Silvestrini concluded.

Zenit - The World Seen From Rome