Pope Receives Israel's Rivlin amid Tensions

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin was received by Pope Francis for the first time Thursday in what could be seen as a bid to ease tensions raised this year by the signing of a historic first accord between the Vatican and Palestine.

The Vatican said the "cordial discussions" addressed "the political and social situation in the Middle East, affected by several conflicts, with special attention to the condition of Christians and other minority groups".

Francis stressed the "urgency of promoting a climate of trust between Israelis and Palestinians" as well as "the resumption of direct negotiations" for "an agreement respecting the legitimate aspirations of the two populations".

The Vatican also underlined "the importance of inter-religious dialogue was recognized, along with the responsibility of religious leaders in promoting reconciliation and peace".

Rivlin, accompanied by his wife, spent half an hour with the Argentine pontiff before meeting the Vatican's Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, according to journalists present.

The pope presented Rivlin with a bronze medallion made up of two separate parts united by an olive branch, the symbol of peace, with the words "seek that which unites, overcome that what divides" inscribed on it.

The Israeli president gave Francis a gift made of basalt featuring a verse from a Psalm, telling the pope: "I thought it was right to remember the common origin of Judaism and Christianity".

It was the first meeting between the new head of state and the pope, who had established a relationship of trust with Rivlin's predecessor, Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres.

Relations were strained in June by the signing of a historic first accord between the Church and Palestine, two years after the latter was officially recognized by the Vatican as a state.

Tensions have been further raised by attacks by extremist Jews on Christian churches and protests in a Palestinian Christian town near Bethlehem against renewed work on Israel's West Bank separation barrier.

Among the other hot-button issues likely to have been raised are Christian schools currently on strike in the Jewish state over a funding dispute.