Religion
The Religious Right’s No. 1 Enemy: What Pope Francis’ Recognition of Palestine Really Means
In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis meets with an Argentine interreligious group, at the Vatican, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. According to Vatican Radio, the group, made up of 15 jews, 15 muslims and 15 catholics, had just returned from a pilgrimage to Jordan, Israel and Palestine, where Pope Francis is scheduled to travel in May. (AP Photo/L’Osservatore Romano, ho)
Patricia Miller, SALON
VATICAN (Salon.com) — News that the Vatican has officially recognized Palestinian statehood in a new treaty may have less of an impact on the relationship between the Holy See and Palestine than on the already fraught relationship between Pope Francis and an increasingly disgruntled Catholic and evangelical right here in the U.S.
That’s because Rome’s diplomatic recognition of Palestine, while made official on Wednesday, has been proceeding quietly behind the scenes for some time. The Vatican has referred to the “state of Palestine” unofficially since the UN recognized the Palestinian state in 2012. “We have recognized the State of Palestine ever since it was given recognition by the United Nations and it is already listed as the State of Palestine in our official yearbook,” said Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi.
The treaty itself, which is expected to be signed shortly, “deals with essential aspects of the life and activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine,” such as the status of Catholic Church properties and charities.
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