PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL VISITS THE HOLY FATHER

VATICAN CITY, DEC 13, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released the following communique:

  "Today Wednesday, December 13, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received Ehud Olmert, prime minister of Israel. Subsequently, the prime minister went on to meet Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti and Msgr. Pietro Parolin, respectively secretary and under-secretary for Relations with States.

  "In the course of the discussions, attention turned to the matter of peace in the Middle East, and to questions regarding the position of the Catholic community in Israel, also in view of the forthcoming Christmas celebrations."
OP/ISRAEL/OLMERT                                VIS 20061213 (120)