Relations between the Holy See and Israel became official in 1994, under Pope John Paul II. Relations became oficial with Palestine in 2015, and its embassy opened in Rome two years later.
The Vatican has always supported the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. In recent years, during the pontificate of Pope Francis, the Vatican has sought to promote dialogue between Israel and Palestine. The Pope invited the two presidents to Rome for a meeting for peace.
POPE FRANCIS
I would like to extend an invitation to you, Mr. President, and to President Mahmoud Abbas, to join me in raising an intense prayer to the Lord, invoking peace.
This happened a few days later on a warm June afternoon in the Vatican Gardens.
However, tensions did not subside in the following years, and the Holy See did not change its interest in defending the two-state proposal, even after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel's response.
POPE FRANCIS
We pray and pray also for the Middle East, for Gaza, which suffers so much in war, for peace between Palestine and Israel, that they may be two free states with good relations.
Shortly after, the Vatican Foreign Minister also confirmed the Vatican’s consistent position.
May 2024
ABP. PAUL RICHARD GALLAGHER
Vatican Secretary for Relations with States
And I think many people, although recognizing that it is a very, very difficult call, realize that it's probably the only option on the table at the moment. And, as we know, if there is the political will to bring this about, it can happen. Now, that's a big, big call and we know that. But this situation is so grave, what we have already witnessed is so terrible that we need to do something like this.
The Vatican also maintains good relations with Jordan and Egypt, with the former at an institutional level, as evidenced by Queen Rania of Jordan’s recent participation in a Vatican event. With Egypt, the Pope has greatly strengthened relations with one of the great leaders of the Sunni world: the Imam of Al Azhar. It remains to be seen what the Holy See will do in this complicated geopolitical scenario.
JRB
TR: GS
