Pope Calls for Review of the Status of Jerusalem

Pope John Paul II called yesterday for a review of the status of Jerusalem during a state visit in Casablanca, Morocco.

The Pope made his remarks in response to questions from reporters who traveled with him from Nairobi, Kenya, to Casablanca. “The problem of Jerusalem should be reviewed,” the Pope said. “The Moslems are convinced that Jerusalem should have a special status as a central point, the capital, of three monotheistic religions. That is also the view of the Holy See.”

The Pope, however, stressed Israel’s right to exist when asked how the question of Jerusalem can be resolved. “It’s a difficult question,” he replied. “Of course, we cannot deny to Israel the right to be a state. But the problem of Jerusalem should be reviewed.”

The Vatican has repeatedly called for making Jerusalem an “international city,” with the holy sites of Jerusalem under joint Jewish, Islamic and Christian control. The Vatican does not recognize Israel and does not have diplomatic ties with the Jewish State. “We are still working for the solution of the very complex problem of the Middle East,” the Pope said yesterday, pointing out that “The problem of Jerusalem is one element. There are other problems, very important, difficult Palestinian problems, the Lebanon problem.”

The Pope’s comment regarding Jerusalem, observers here said, were very significant in view of the fact that they were made in Morocco, a Moslem country, and before the meeting between the Pope and King Hassan of Morocco, who heads the Islamic Conference’s committee on the status of Jerusalem.

A spokesman for the Vatican said yesterday that the Pope’s visit to Morocco was the first visit by a Pope to a Moslem country at the direct invitation of the local Roman Catholic Church.