The Vatican's communication office has called for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. France has expressed its support for Palestinian statehood. The article highlights the Vatican's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and France's backing of a Palestinian state.
5 months ago
The Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, through its editorial manager Andrea Tornielli, has reaffirmed the Holy See's long-standing advocacy for a two-state solution and the recognition of Palestinian statehood amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict 2. This reiteration follows France's recent announcement to recognize Palestine as a state 2. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, further emphasized this position, stating that the recognition of a Palestinian state is "the solution" and expressing hope that other nations will join this initiative 3.
The Holy See's support for Palestinian statehood is rooted in a consistent diplomatic history. The Vatican officially signed its first treaty with the "State of Palestine" in 2015, an agreement that affirmed the Palestinian people's right to an "independent, sovereign, democratic, and viable" state 2. Pope Francis began using the term "State of Palestine" during his 2014 visit to the Holy Land 2. Preceding him, Pope Benedict XVI affirmed both Israel's right to exist in peace and security and the Palestinian people's right to an independent and sovereign homeland 2. Even earlier, in the early 1990s, Pope John Paul II established diplomatic relations with both the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization 2. The Vatican's consistent stance emphasizes the need for both Israeli and Palestinian states to live "side by side, in autonomy but also in collaboration and security" 3.
French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to officially recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September has met with mixed international reactions 2. While the Vatican welcomed this move, several Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Australia, have rejected Macron's plan 2. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described France's decision as "premature" 3. Former U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed Macron's announcement, stating it "doesn't matter" and "is not going to change anything" 2. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while rejecting Macron's specific timing, reiterated support for a two-state solution that ensures lasting security for both Palestinians and Israelis 2.
Macron's announcement included calls for the demilitarization of Hamas, the release of hostages, and the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza, alongside the requirement that Palestine accept demilitarization and fully recognize Israel 2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "strongly" condemned Macron's decision, viewing it as a reward for terror that risks creating another Iranian proxy, similar to Gaza 2. Netanyahu asserted that a Palestinian state under current conditions would serve as a "launch pad to annihilate Israel," not to coexist peacefully, claiming Palestinians seek a state "instead of Israel" 2. Cardinal Parolin also noted that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are not conducive to rapprochement and called on Israel to prevent further "mistakes" such as the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza, lamenting that famine has become a "new weapon" of war 3.
The Vatican hopes for a High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Resolution of the Palestinian Question to decisively pursue a solution guaranteeing a Palestinian state with secure, respected, and recognized borders 2. Cardinal Parolin stressed that the solution lies in "direct dialogue between the two parties" 3. Beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Cardinal Parolin also discussed the Vatican's efforts to resume more cordial relations with the Moscow Patriarchate, emphasizing the importance of dialogue despite disagreements arising from the war in Ukraine, and reaffirmed the Holy See's neutrality in the conflict 3. He also expressed concern over recent attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, deploring the "Islamic jihad imposed by force and violence" 3.
What constitutes just governance and peace among peoples?
Just governance and peace among peoples, according to Catholic social teaching, are deeply intertwined and founded upon several key principles: the dignity of the human person, the common good, justice, truth, love, freedom, and solidarity .
At the core of just governance is the recognition and protection of the intrinsic dignity of every human person, created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed by Christ . This dignity is the basis for human rights, which are not subject to the arbitrary interventions of the majority but must be recognized and central to every social plan and political decision . When human dignity is defended, solidarity is encouraged, and social harmony and prosperity are fostered .
Just governance exists for the common good, which is the sum total of social conditions that allow individuals, families, and organizations to achieve their complete and efficacious fulfillment . The common good is rooted in the dignity, unity, and equality of all people . It requires that public authorities refrain from partiality or selective justice, treating everyone on an equal basis, which allows the value, gifts, and talents of each member to be recognized and utilized for the community's benefit . The measure of governance is the vitality of the common good, and states and civil institutions should prioritize individuals and the common good, rooted in social friendship and charity .
Peace is not merely the absence of war, but an "enterprise of justice" . It is built upon truth, justice, love, and freedom .
Solidarity refers to the virtue that enables the human family to share fully in material and spiritual goods . It is essential for peace, demanding the defeat of exclusion and the transformation of diffidence into friendly collaboration . The globalization of values like democracy, human rights, and peace represents the globalization of solidarity, aiming to ensure economic and social benefits for all . Peace is increasingly understood as the fruit of solidarity .
Subsidiarity is the coordination of society's activities in a way that supports the internal life of local communities . These principles work together to pursue the common good in a way that respects and allows human dignity to flourish .
Those responsible for governing, drafting laws, and administering public affairs must constantly look to the human being and their basic requirements . Public authorities are called to promote and exercise justice with truth and love, contributing to integral human development through solidarity . They must safeguard the rights and welfare of all citizens, avoiding partiality or preferential treatment . The indispensable professional competence of political leaders must be connected to strong moral convictions, enabling them to reject injustice and institutional corruption . This selfless public service, combined with closeness to concrete conditions, constitutes "good governance" and is the best guarantee of peace .
In summary, just governance and peace are achieved when societies are built on the inherent dignity of every person, striving for the common good through the consistent application of justice, truth, love, and freedom, and fostering solidarity and subsidiarity in all human interactions .