Wants Jerusalem's Shrines Protected
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 27, 2000 (ZENIT.org). John Paul II reiterated his call Thursday for an "internationally guaranteed status" for the holy places in Jerusalem.
The Vatican has spoken about this status for years, a formula that in no way, however, proposes "the internationalization of the city of Jerusalem."
The Pope made his appeal when he received Fouad Aoun, 60, the new ambassador from Lebanon to the Vatican.
Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, Vatican secretary for relations with states, explained that what "we ask for is that in the future the shrines of the three religions be able to conserve their unique and sacred character, thanks to international guarantees, so that in future no one of the sides can claim exclusive control for itself over these sacred places of the city."
On Sept. 18, when John Paul II received Yosef Neville Lamdan, Israel's new ambassador to the Vatican, he explained that the international guarantee for Jerusalem should guarantee not only "the conservation of the cultural and religious heritage of the city," but contribute to a just and stable peace.
The Holy Father expressed his concern to the Lebanese ambassador, and described the "present juncture" in the Mideast as "particularly disquieting."
"The definitive stability of peace and security in the region seems to recede," the Pope said. "One cannot but see that recourse to violence always leads to greater damages for all, increased anger, and greater difficulty in the possibility of reconciliation.
"The Holy Land, where God has manifested himself and spoken to men, must become the place par excellence where peace and justice flower. Jerusalem must be a symbol of strong unity, peace and reconciliation for the whole of humanity."
The Pontiff requested the whole Lebanese community "to continue with determination in the efforts to affirm increasingly fraternal relations" between Catholics and Muslims, in order "to construct a new Lebanon capable of overcoming misunderstandings and of seeking prosperity for all its inhabitants."
Zenit - The World Seen From Rome
27. oktober 2000