George Conger,
Peace in the Middle East and the resolution of property and tax disputes with the Roman Catholic Church will top the agenda of President Shimon Peres's September 6 meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.
On Friday, Vatican Radio announced the two will meet next month at Castel Gandalfo, the Pope's summer palace outside Rome.
Peres will travel to Italy on September 5 and will also meet with his counterpart, President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
While the trip will be Peres' first since assuming the Presidency, as foreign minister and prime minister the veteran politician has been a frequent guest of the Vatican. In April 2006, while out of public office, he had a private meeting with Pope Benedict to discuss the political situation in the region.
Benedict wrote Peres in July, congratulating him on his election and stating that he hoped his presidency would serve as a vehicle for peace.
In Nov 2005 Benedict met with then President Moshe Katsav in Rome and the Israeli leader extended a formal invitation to visit Israel.
Benedict responded positively, but no date has yet been set. A papal visit to Israel is understood to be contingent on the successful ...   more »