VATICAN (CWNews.com) - After meeting with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican on February 15, Yasser Arafat announced that the Holy Father has accepted his invitation to visit Jericho during his March visit to the Holy Land.
The Palestinian leader-- who was in Rome for the signing of a new diplomatic accord between the Holy See and the Palestinian Authority-- told reporters that the Pope had agreed to travel to the most important city currently under Palestinian control. "The Holy Father promised me that he would come to visit Jericho during his trip," he said.
The official schedule for the Pope's trip to the Holy Land does not include any mention of Jericho. But Vatican officials indicated that the Pope had made the decision to visit Jericho after his meeting with Arafat.
Arafat told reporters that he had told the Pope that he was troubled by the latest developments in peace talks with Israel. He said that John Paul had stressed his "solidarity" with the Palestinian people and their "legitimate aspirations."
Catholic World News Service - Vatican Update