NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Israeli government authorities have once again rejected a plea by Pope John Paul II for international guarantees to protect the status of Jerusalem.

      "A united Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and will remain under our authority," an unnamed government spokesman told the Italian news agency ANSA. He added that "access to the holy places is free to the faithful of all religions, and Israel hopes that such freedoms will always be respected."

      The comments from the Israeli government came after the Holy Father, in a statement to the new ambassador of Jordan, reiterated his position that Jerusalem should be under international sovereignty, so that the holy places of the world's three great monotheistic religions would always be protected. The Pope had indicated that he hoped such guarantees might be in place by the year 2000.

      Pope John Paul II will meet with Yasser Arafat, the head of the Palestinian National Authority, at the Vatican on June 12. Their conversations are expected to touch on the stalled Middle East peace process in general, and the status of Jerusalem in particular.

      The Palestinian leader's visit will mark his fifth meeting with the Pope. The announcement of his trip to Rome comes soon after a series of significant meetings with American diplomatic leaders, aimed at bringing new life to the peace process.