Pope Benedict XVI: a cautious approach to Middle East peace

Abstract

Pope Benedict XVI came to the papacy with a very limited track record in terms of Catholic–Jewish relations generally speaking and virtually no public perspective on political issues related to the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Since assuming the papacy he has addressed the Middle East political conflict only on a few occasions save for his trip to the region where he spoke to the question at length throughout his visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He was somewhat cautious in his remarks while highlighting several key issues. Pope Benedict affirmed several times during his visit that Christian–Muslim reconciliation was a strongly desired goal on the part of the Vatican. But he also gave his strong endorsement to territorial sovereignty for Israel alongside a Palestinian state. He even implied a direct connection between biblical Israel and the modern state. On numerous occasions he encouraged the local Christian community to stand fast in its faith and not leave the region. For Pope Benedict the continuation of a vibrant Christian community in the Middle East is of the highest priority. The future position of the Pope and the Vatican will no doubt be affected by the reception accorded to the KAIROS Palestine document, the results of the ongoing negotiations between the Holy See and the Israeli government over a host of specific issues such as taxation, clergy permits, etc., the development of a serious peace plan by US President Barack Obama and the conclusions of the Synod on the Middle East in October 2010.