Roman Catholic authorities here expect the Vatican to issue a “papal dogma” raising the status of the Church of the Dormition on Mount Zion, which is still occupied by the Israel Army to a Holy Place of the first order, it was learned today. The church, which belongs to the German Benedictines, was seriously damaged by shelling from the Arab Legion last year.
(Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett declared during the week-end that the Israel Government was still concerned with facilitating the stay and movement of pilgrims in Israel during the Vatican-proclaimed 1950 Holy Year. He voiced the hope that “some conclusive arrangement” will be made with “a neighboring country” in regard to the pilgrims.)
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