POPE SENDS CARDINAL LAGHI AS SPECIAL ENVOY TO JERUSALEM

VATICAN CITY, MAY 30, 2001 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls published the following declaration this morning:

"The Holy Father, in his solicitude for the Holy Land, has sent Cardinal Pio Laghi to Jerusalem as his special envoy, accompanied by Msgr. Giovanni d'Aniello, nunciature counsellor in the service of the Secretary of State. The delegation left Rome this morning, May 30, 2001.

"During their stay in the Holy Land, the Cardinal will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and the President of the Palestinian Authority Yassar Arafat. He will give them a Message signed by the Holy Father, with the goal of encouraging the parties to a cease-fire and the renewal of dialogue."

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