Vatican circles are visibly “embarrassed” by the arrest of Greek Catholic Archbishop Hillarion Capucci accused by Israeli police of having helped the Fatah terrorist organizations. The Archbishop was arrested yesterday morning at his home in East Jerusalem.
The Vatican has refused to officially comment on the arrest, but Catholic circles here deplore the fact that they had been taken by surprise and had not been informed by Israel of the action it planned to take.
These circles add that though the Pope has publicly affirmed his support for “the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people” he has on numerous occasions condemned terrorism in all its forms. The latest public condemnation of terrorism took place 10 days ago after a bomb exploded aboard an Italian train killing 12 people and injuring 30 more. The Greek Catholic church recognizes the Pope as its head.
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