Representatives of the Holy See and Israel met on September 21 in a negotiating session that ended with a joint statement announcing “progress” toward a juridical pact establishing the status of Church institutions in Israel. “The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere,” the joint statement said.
But there was no indication of an imminent agreement.
The negotiations, which have proceeded intermittently for 17 years, are designed to finalize a pact that was promised as part of the “Fundamental Agreement” in 1993 that paved the way for Vatican recognition of Israel.
SIC: CC/INT'L