Pope Francis called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an "angel of peace" during a meeting Saturday at the Vatican, coming just days after the Holy See announced its official recognition of Palestine as a state.
"May the angel of peace destroy the evil spirit of war," Francis told Abbas after presenting him a medallion as a gift, The Associated Press reported. Francis told Abbas that the gift was appropriate since "you are an angel of piece."
In a 2014 visit to Israel, Francis called both Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres men of peace, according to AP.
The two held a twenty minute meeting behind closed doors in which, according to Vatican Radio, "great satisfaction was expressed for the accord reached on the text of a comprehensive agreement between the parties on various essential aspects of the life and the activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine, to be signed in the near future."
Francis expressed hope "that direct negotiations between the parties be resumed in order to find a just and lasting solution to the conflict [between Palestine and Israel] ... To this end the wish was reiterated that, with the support of the international Community, Israelis and Palestinians may take with determination courageous decisions to promote peace."
Abbas traveled to Rome to attend the Sunday canonization of two 19th century nuns from then Ottoman-ruled Palestine. The nuns, Marie Alphonsine Ghattas from Jerusalem and Mariam Bawardy from Galilee, will be the first Palestinian Arabs to gain sainthood, RT reported.
The Holy See announced on Wednesday that it is preparing to sign its first bilateral treaty with the state of Palestine. The treaty explicitly states that the Vatican has switched its diplomatic allegiance from the Palestinian Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine.
Israel quickly spoke out against the decision, saying it was antithetical to the peace process. "Israel heard with disappointment the decision of the Holy See to agree a final formulation of an agreement with the Palestinians, including the use of the term 'Palestinian state'," an Israeli foreign ministry official said, according to The Guardian.
"Such a development does not further the peace process and distances the Palestinian leadership from returning to direct bilateral negotiations. Israel will study the agreement and consider its next step."
