Pope Benedict said he would like to take up an invitation to visit Israel. Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who held a 30-minute talk with the pontiff Thursday, said Benedict “responded positively” to his call to visit the Holy Land. According to Katsav, the visit could take place next year. The talks at the Vatican capped efforts by Israel and the Catholic Church to patch up ties after the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem voiced anger in July at an anti-terrorism speech by Benedict that neglected to mention attacks on Israel. Benedict’s predecessor, the late Pope John Paul II, visited Israel in 2000.
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