Catholic World News News Feature

Pope meets Qorei, raps Israeli security wall February 12, 2004

Pope John Paul II met with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei on February 12, and renewed his criticism of the Israeli security wall running through Palestinian territory.

The continuing violence in the Holy Land is "a source of profound suffering for all," the Pope told the Palestinian leader. He went on: "It is reconciliation that the Holy land needs: forgiveness, not revenge; bridges, not walls."

The Pope's words were a repetition of remarks that he had made last November, shortly after Israeli began construction of the security wall. In public remarks shortly before a meeting with Israeli's Prime Minister Sharon, the Pontiff had said: "Really, the Holy Land needs bridges, not walls."

After a private, 10-minute talk with Qorei, the Pope send his public greetings and blessings to the Palestinian people, and recalled his emotional trip to the Holy Land in March 2000.

The Palestinian leader met the Pope during a trip to Europe, which he explained as an effort to "ask everyone to be involved" in the search for peace in the Middle East. He said that he had asked the world's leading powers to help renew active talks between Palestine and Israel.

Qorei told reporters in Italy that he has been working "for months, 24 hours a day" to stop terrorist bombings. But he charged that Israeli policies-- in particular, the construction of the wall and the military incursions into Palestinian villages-- were making it more difficult to control extremists.