Pope Benedict XVI- Apostolic Journey to the Holy Land |
"The Holy See Supports the
Right of Your People to a Sovereign Palestinian Homeland"
Greeting
to president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas
H.H. Benedict XVI
Presidential Palace, Bethlehem
May 13, 2009
Mr. President,
Dear Friends,
I greet all of you from my heart, and I warmly thank the President,
Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, for his words of welcome. My pilgrimage to the
lands of the Bible would not be complete without a visit to
Bethlehem, the City of David and the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Nor
could I come to the Holy Land without accepting the kind invitation
of President Abbas to visit these Territories and to greet the
Palestinian people. I know how much you have suffered and continue
to suffer as a result of the turmoil that has afflicted this land
for decades. My heart goes out to all the families who have been
left homeless. This afternoon I will pay a visit to the Aida Refugee
Camp, in order to express my solidarity with the people who have
lost so much. To those among you who mourn the loss of family
members and loved ones in the hostilities, particularly the recent
conflict in Gaza, I offer an assurance of deep compassion and
frequent remembrance in prayer. Indeed, I keep all of you in my
daily prayers, and I earnestly beg the Almighty for peace, a just
and lasting peace, in the Palestinian Territories and throughout the
region.
Mr. President, the Holy See supports the right of your people to a
sovereign Palestinian homeland in the land of your forefathers,
secure and at peace with its neighbors, within internationally
recognized borders. Even if at present that goal seems far from
being realized, I urge you and all your people to keep alive the
flame of hope, hope that a way can be found of meeting the
legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians for peace
and stability. In the words of the late Pope John Paul II, there can
be "no peace without justice, no justice without forgiveness"
(Message for the 2002 World Day of Peace). I plead with all the
parties to this long-standing conflict to put aside whatever
grievances and divisions still stand in the way of reconciliation,
and to reach out with generosity and compassion to all alike,
without discrimination. Just and peaceful coexistence among the
peoples of the Middle East can only be achieved through a spirit of
cooperation and mutual respect, in which the rights and dignity of
all are acknowledged and upheld. I ask all of you, I ask your
leaders, to make a renewed commitment to work towards these goals.
In particular I call on the international community to bring its
influence to bear in favor of a solution. Believe and trust that
through honest and persevering dialogue, with full respect for the
demands of justice, lasting peace really can be attained in these
lands.
It is my earnest hope that the serious concerns involving security
in Israel and the Palestinian Territories will soon be allayed
sufficiently to allow greater freedom of movement, especially with
regard to contact between family members and access to the holy
places. Palestinians, like any other people, have a natural right to
marry, to raise families, and to have access to work, education and
health care. I pray too that, with the assistance of the
international community, reconstruction work can proceed swiftly
wherever homes, schools or hospitals have been damaged or destroyed,
especially during the recent fighting in Gaza. This is essential if
the people of this land are to live in conditions conducive to
lasting peace and prosperity. A stable infrastructure will provide
your young people with better opportunities to acquire valuable
skills and to seek gainful employment, enabling them to play their
part in building up the life of your communities. I make this appeal
to the many young people throughout the Palestinian Territories
today: do not allow the loss of life and the destruction that you
have witnessed to arouse bitterness or resentment in your hearts.
Have the courage to resist any temptation you may feel to resort to
acts of violence or terrorism. Instead, let what you have
experienced renew your determination to build peace. Let it fill you
with a deep desire to make a lasting contribution to the future of
Palestine, so that it can take its rightful place on the world
stage. Let it inspire in you sentiments of compassion for all who
suffer, zeal for reconciliation, and a firm belief in the
possibility of a brighter future.
Mr. President, dear friends gathered here in Bethlehem, I invoke
upon all the Palestinian people the blessings and the protection of
our heavenly Father, and I pray fervently that the song which the
angels sang here in this place will be fulfilled: peace on earth,
good will among men. Thank you. And may God be with you.
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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