Israels president ønsker paven velkommen

TEL AVIV (CWNews.com) - Speaking in Hebrew, Israeli President Ezer Weizman welcomed Pope John Paul II to his country on March 21, as darkness gathered over Israel and a soft rain fell on the Tel Aviv airport.

The Israeli head of state observed that Israel is «the spiritual center of the Jewish people,» and said that in the Jewish state there is «peace and serenity» among the believers of all faiths. He added: «It is important that the sons and daughters of the Church understand the reality of modern Israel.»

Weizman spoke of the «terrible Shoah» which had wiped out «one-third of the Jewish people,» and of the «religious persecutions and anti-Semitism» which the Hebrew people had suffered in exile. He praised Pope John Paul for «your contribution to the condemnation of anti-Semitism as a sin against heaven and against humanity.» And he added his praise for «your plea for pardon for the past actions committed against the Jews by members of the Church.»

The Israeli president said that the peace process in the Middle East is «encouraging and impressive,» and said that «we hope for peace, we dream of peace, we pray for peace.»

However, Weizman gave a subtle indication that Israel would not accept one Vatican suggestion regarding the peace process: the creation of an international status for the city of Jerusalem. While acknowledging that Jerusalem is «a sacred place for Christianity and Islam,» Weizman insisted that it would always be «the heart of the people of Israel» and «the capital of the State of Israel.»

After the airport greeting ceremony-- at which he met personally with leaders of the Israeli government, the local Catholic hierarchy, the rabbis of Jerusalem, and the Muslim leaders of the region-- Pope John Paul boarded a helicopter for the trip to Jerusalem, where he would spend the night at the apostolic delegation.

Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update