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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: December 4, 2005 |
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Pope Benedict XVI held talks on Saturday about the Middle East with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who invited him to visit the Holy Land.
"You will be very welcome in Jerusalem and all the holy places," Abbas told the pope after their private 20-minute meeting in the pontiff's library.
"Thank you very much," the pope replied. Both men were smiling and appeared relaxed.
Abbas, speaking English, later told journalists that Benedict "responded positively" to his invitation but indicated no date.
Last month, Israeli President Moshe Katsav invited Benedict to Israel, and said he hoped the pope would visit next year.
"The situation in the Middle East was reviewed," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said of Saturday's meeting in a statement. "In particular, the need to integrate all components of the Palestinian people into the peace process was stressed."
That appeared to be a reference to extremist elements blamed for violence and terrorism. |
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