During a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the pontiff a Chanukah Menorah and a book about the Inquisition in Spain that was written by his late father.
Netanyahu's father, Ben-Zion Netanyahu, was an Israeli historian who died last year. A Zionist activist, he was best known in academic circles for his research into the Catholic Church's medieval inquisition against the Jews of Spain.
"To his Holiness Pope Franciscus, a great shepherd of our common heritage," the Israeli leader wrote on the inside front page of the Spanish translatio of the 1995 book "The Origins of the Inquisition."
The meeting was the Prime Minister’s first with the current pope, who met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in April.
The Vatican press office said the conversation touched on “complex political and social situation in the Middle East, with particular reference to the reinstatement of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, expressing hope that a just and lasting solution respecting the rights of both Parties may be reached as soon as possible.”
They reportedly also discussed the recent nuclear deal in Geneva between Iran and six world powers, as well as recent European legislation banning circumcision and kosher slaughter.
President Peres has invited the pontiff to Israel but the Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Pope Francis had yet to set a date to visit the Holy Land.
Later on Monday, Netanyahu, who is accompanied by six ministers, was due to meet his Italian counterpart Enrico Letta and warned that Iran represented a threat to Europe and the entire world if it acquires the nuclear weapon.
The Vatican Press Office said the conversation touched on “complex political and social situation in the Middle East, with Particular reference to the reinstatement of Negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, expressing Hope that a just and lasting solution Respecting the rights of Both Parties may be reached as soon as possible.”
They reportedly also discussed the recent nuclear deal in Geneva between Iran and six world powers, and recent European legislation banning circumcision and kosher slaughter.
resident Peres has invited the pontiff to Israel but the Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Pope Francis had yet to set a date to visit the Holy Land.
Later on Monday, Netanyahu, who is accompanied by six ministers, was due to meet his Italian counterpart Enrico Letta.