The Vatican clarified that Archbishop Pietro Sambi's critique of Israel for not fulfilling its promises to the Holy See are the personal opinion of the prelate.Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, stated this in a press release today.
Archbishop Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, lamented in an interview Friday with Terrasanta.net that after 10 years of negotiations, Israel still hasn't legally approved agreements with the Holy See, and added that he thinks it doesn't have the political will to do so.
The 69-year-old prelate was the nuncio to Israel from 1998-2005.
Father Lombardi said in the statement: "The interview with Archbishop Sambi published on the site Terrasanta.net reflects his opinions and his personal lived experience during the years of his service as apostolic delegate to Jerusalem and as nuncio to Israel."
"The Holy See confirms for its part support -- already expressed on the occasion of the recent visit of President [Shimon] Peres to the Holy Father -- 'for a rapid conclusion of the important ongoing negotiations' and for a solution of common agreement for the existing problems."
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