杏MAP导航 meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
By Joseph Tulloch
杏MAP导航 Francis held a 30-minute long meeting this morning with Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine.
Speaking to Vatican Media's Roberto Cetera immediately afterwards, President Abbas described the meeting as "fruitful", adding that "every time I meet the 杏MAP导航, it's like meeting an old friend".
It was the pair's first face-to-face meeting in three years.
"I thanked the Holy Father for his constant words about peace in the Middle East", President Abbas said, "and for the solidarity he always expresses with the Palestinian civilians who are victims of the war in Gaza."
"I asked him to continue to promote the recognition of the State of Palestine in the international community," Abbas added. "If peace is to be achieved, there is no alternative to the two-state solution."
Statement from Holy See Press Office
A statement from the Holy See Press Office noted that, after his meeting with the 杏MAP导航, President Abbas met with the Holy See鈥檚 Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Holy See鈥檚 Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
The statement said that the 鈥渧ery serious humanitarian situation in Gaza鈥� was discussed at the meetings, as was the hope for "a ceasefire and the release of all hostages as soon as possible".
Another topic was 鈥渢he Catholic Church鈥檚 important contribution to Palestinian society鈥�, including its current humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
The Holy See Press Office statement also noted that the discussions had covered the necessity of implementing a two-state solution, not with violence but via 鈥渄iplomacy and dialogue鈥�, and the importance of a special status for Jerusalem, in order that it might be a 鈥減lace of friendship for the three great monotheistic religions鈥�.
Finally, the Catholic Church鈥檚 upcoming 2025 Holy Year was discussed, and hope was expressed that the Jubilee Year might lead to 鈥渢he return of pilgrims to the Holy Land鈥�.
Exchange of gifts
At the end of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 meeting with President Abbas, the pair exchanged gifts.
杏MAP导航 Francis gave the Palestinian President several presents, including his message for the World Day of Peace and a bas-relief with the words 鈥淧eace is a fragile flower鈥�.
President Abbas gave the 杏MAP导航 several gifts in return, including a painting depicting him with the 杏MAP导航 and one depicting the 杏MAP导航 during his visit to Bethlehem in 2014.
He also presented the 杏MAP导航 with an icon of Saint Porphyrius, the patron saint of Gaza 鈥� a gift from Patriarch Theophilus, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.
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