On Saturday, Pope Francis met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, for a traditional exchange of gifts at the Apostolic Palace. Abbas visited Vatican City, bringing relics of two soon-to-be named saints. On Sunday, Pope Francis will canonize 19th-century nuns Mariam Bawardy and Marie Alphonsine Ghattas. In this prolific move, the pope hopes to instill hope for the Middle East, as Islamic extremists continue to brandish violence against Christians in the region.
The last time a Middle East canonization occurred was in the early days of Christianity, marking this meeting as historic.
Once Abbas presented the pope with the relics, the pontiff passed the president a medallion which represents an “angel of peace destroying the bad spirit of war.” The pope said the gift was fitting as Abbas is an “angel of peace.” He had previously made similar comments late last year during a visit to Israel, where he also called Israeli President Shimon Peres a man of peace.
In addition to the canonization of the nuns, the Vatican finalized a treaty with Palestine, acknowledging “Palestinian Statehood.” It is with this treaty the pope hopes to see communications resume between the two warring nations.
With open communications, said the pope, the path of peace and beating terrorism can become realistic, rather than rife with more violence.
While the Palestinian president and the pope were in good spirits, the meeting drew criticism from Israel. An Israeli official expressed “disappointment” with the pope’s decision to reach out to Abbas and solidify the “Palestinian State” label. The official said the treaty is expected to make little headway towards peace and will be reviewed to determine the “next step.”
The treaty has been in the works for well over a decade, with the hope the two nations will come to the table with the Vatican as a mediator.
Pope Francis has immersed in foreign politics, more notably when he negotiated a thaw between Cuba and the United States following a letter he penned to the leaders of both nations last year. President Obama and President Castro have publicly thanked the pope for bridging the relationship.
The pontiff believes the treaty will eventually bring both nations, weary with war, to the table to end the violence and start building hopeful communications.