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 Palestine |  Holy See |
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TheHoly See and theState of Palestine established formal diplomatic relations in 2015 through the mutual signing of theComprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine. In 2017, aPalestinian embassy to the Holy See was opened.[1][2]
The Holy See had maintained relations with Palestine (which the Vatican callsthe Holy Land) since 11 February 1948, when theHoly See created the office ofApostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, with jurisdiction over Palestine,Transjordania (nowJordan), andCyprus.[3] In Vatican City usage, anApostolic Delegate is a representative of Vatican City in a country with which the Holy See has no diplomatic ties, and who is not accredited to the government of the country. The Delegate also acts as a liaison with theCatholic Church in that country.
ArchbishopAndrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, who had been Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine since 1990, was also appointed the first Apostolic Nuncio to Israel after relations were established between Israel and the Holy See in 1994. Since 1994, theNuncios to Israel have held simultaneous appointments as Nuncio to Cyprus and Apostolic Delegates to Jerusalem and Palestine. The Nunciature to Israel is located inTel Aviv. Since 3 June 2021,Adolfo Tito Yllana has been Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Apostolic Delegates to Jerusalem and Palestine.
The Holy See and the PLO entered into a basic agreement in 2000, and in 2015 the Holy See and the Palestinian Authority entered into theComprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine to formulate the relationship of the Holy See and theState of Palestine. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli control of most of the West Bank territory are the major focus of these agreements. On 25 January 2017, thePalestinian embassy to the Holy See was opened,[1] andIssa Kassissieh was appointed Ramallah's ambassador to the Holy See.[2]
Before the creation of the office of Apostolic Delegate, theCustodian of the Holy Land, which has had a presence in the Holy Land since after the Crusader period, and by theLatin Patriarch of Jerusalem, which was re-instituted in 1847, represented the interests of the Vatican in the region.[citation needed]
On 11 February 1948, theHoly See established the office ofApostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine, with jurisdiction over Palestine,Transjordania (nowJordan), andCyprus.[citation needed] When the Holy See established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1994, the Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine was concurrently appointedApostolic Nuncio to Israel and Nuncio to Cyprus.[citation needed]
In 1987,Michel Sabbah became the first nativePalestinian to be appointed Latin Patriarch. His successor in 2008 wasFouad Twal from Jordan.[4]
On 31 October 2016, withPope Francis and President of TheLutheran World Federation, The BishopMunib Younan fromEvangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land signed aJoint Statement commemorating theReformation Day and Historical Reconciliation between the Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches. The co-hosted service was the first of its kind in 500 years.[5]
During the proposals for a resolution of the Palestinian question by partition, the Holy See expressed support for the status ofcorpus separatum for Jerusalem.Pope Pius XII’s official attitude in the1948 Arab–Israeli War was one of impartiality.[citation needed]
On 24 October 1948, at a time when the1948 Arab–Israeli War was still raging, but after Israel went on the offensive inOperation Yoav, Pope Pius issuedencyclicalIn multiplicibus curis, which called for the protection of theHoly Places, and called for peace and mutual respect by the combatants. Though continuing to maintain an attitude of impartiality, the Pope also looked for possibilities for justice and peace in the Holy Land. The Pope repeated his call for Jerusalem and its outskirts be given an international character, which would "offer a better guarantee for the protection of the sanctuaries".
Immediately following the cessation of fighting in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, in April 1949 Pope Pius repeated his call for the internationalization of Jerusalem in encyclicalRedemptoris nostri cruciatus, which focused on the situation inPalestine. The concept was later re-proposed during the papacies ofJohn XXIII,Paul VI andJohn Paul II. Palestinian leaders have opposed any partition of Palestine, with the support of theArab League.
In April 1963,Pope John XXIII issued encyclicalPacem in terris on peace in the world, which has sometimes been re-read and re-interpreted by Christians in the context of politics in the Holy Land.[citation needed]
Pope Paul VI visited the Holy Land in January 1964, and called for new, important and creative initiatives on behalf of Palestinians and the Catholic Church in Palestine.[citation needed] On 25 March 1974, he issued encyclicalNobis in animo which is concerned with the security and survival of the Christian community in the Holy Land.[6]
In 1987,Pope John Paul II met withYasser Arafat,Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) since 1969, and generally supported greater rights for Palestinians.[citation needed] Pope John Paul was an advocate of the 1990s peace negotiations.
In 1999, on a visit to Bethlehem, he reaffirmed what he said was the Palestinians' "natural right to a homeland."[7] On 15 February 2000, the Holy See concluded a basic agreement with the PLO, as representative of the Palestinian people and on behalf of the Palestinian Authority,[8] which committed the PLO and PA to respect freedom of religion in general, as well as freedom of action for Catholic communities and establishments under Palestinian control.[citation needed] In August 2001, Pope John Paul met Arafat for the 10th time and the Pope again expressed support for the rights of the Palestinians, and called for an end to theviolence in the Middle East. Vatican City continued to want an international status for Jerusalem.[9]
Pope Benedict XVI visited Jordan and the Palestine Authority in 2009, although the trip had been put in doubt because of the ongoing infighting in theGaza Strip. Pope Benedict paid special attention to the sufferings of people in the Holy Land, especially the Palestinian people. In May 2009, Benedict expressed support for atwo-state solution of theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict.[10]
On 24 October 2010, the final statement by the Synod of Bishops chaired by Benedict referred to "the necessary legal steps to put an end to the occupation of the different Arab territories", going on to say "Recourse to theological and biblical positions which use the word of God to wrongly justify injustices is not acceptable".[11] It was well received by Palestinian diplomats, chief Palestinian negotiatorSaeb Erekat stating, "we join the synod in their call to the international community to uphold the universal values of freedom, dignity and justice."[12] Israel's Deputy Foreign MinisterDanny Ayalon said that "The synod was hijacked by an anti-Israel majority".[13]
On 27 December 2012, the pope in a meeting with Palestinian president Abbas made an official endorsement of the UN General Assembly resolution which recognized Palestine as a non-member observer state.[14]
Pope Francis visited the Palestinian Authority in May 2014 and expressed sympathy to the Palestinian cause. In May 2015, Palestinian presidentMahmoud Abbas visited Vatican City. On 13 May 2015, Vatican City announced the intention to sign its first treaty with theState of Palestine after formally recognizing it as a state in February 2013.[15] TheComprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine was signed on 26 June 2015.[16] Abbas visited the Vatican in January 2017, to open thePalestinian embassy to the Holy See.[1]
On 31 October 2016, withPope Francis and President of TheLutheran World Federation, The BishopMunib Younan fromEvangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land signed aJoint Statement commemorating theReformation Day and Historical Reconciliation between the Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches. The co-hosted service was the first of its kind in 500 years.[17]
At the same time Pope Francis was conducting a ceremony in the building next door in the upper room ofKing David's Tomb.[citation needed]
Pope Francis and the Vatican generally condemned Israel's military operation in the Gaza during the 2023–present war, leading to complaints from Israel's government.[18][19] Throughout the war, Francis has called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages,[20] and atwo-state solution.[21] Francis described thekilling of Nahida and Samar Anton as "terrorism".[22][23] In 2024, Pope Francis suggested that the international community should study whether Israel's campaign in Gaza is agenocide of the Palestinian people.[24] On December 7, 2024, Pope Francis dedicated a nativity scene in the Vatican where baby Jesus was lying on a Keffiyeh, the traditional Arab scarf. This incident was interpreted as a gesture towards the Palestinians.[25]
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