Tweet
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/646393.html
President Moshe Katsav said Wednesday he would invite Pope Benedict to visit Israel when he meets the Pontiff on the final day of his present trip to Italy on Thursday.
Katsav's talks with the Pontiff at the Vatican will mark the first time an Israeli head of state has paid a visit to the pope's official residence.
"I have the intention to invite him for a state visit to Israel," Katsav told a news conference.
He said that he has "some issues to discuss with his Holiness" in Thursday's talks but did not elaborate.
Israeli officials have said the meeting would include talks on a long-standing dispute on the tax status of the Roman Catholic Church's large property holdings in Israel.
President Moshe Katsav said Wednesday he would invite Pope Benedict to visit Israel when he meets the Pontiff on the final day of his present trip to Italy on Thursday.
Katsav's talks with the Pontiff at the Vatican will mark the first time an Israeli head of state has paid a visit to the pope's official residence.
"I have the intention to invite him for a state visit to Israel," Katsav told a news conference.
He said that he has "some issues to discuss with his Holiness" in Thursday's talks but did not elaborate.
Israeli officials have said the meeting would include talks on a long-standing dispute on the tax status of the Roman Catholic Church's large property holdings in Israel.