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| Pope Francis delighted his Palestinian hosts by referring to the "state of Palestine" during a three-day visit to the Middle East a year ago |
Israel has expressed its disappointment at the decision which it says will not advance the peace process.
Talks between the Palestinians and the Vatican - which favours a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - have gone of for 20 years.
President Abbas meets the Pope this weekend when two 19th Century Palestinian nuns will be canonised.
The Vatican is eager that property and civil rights of the Catholic Church in the Palestinian state is protected, correspondents say. According to the New York Times, it has strong religious interests in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories that include Christian holy sites. » | Wednesday, May 13, 2015
ARUTZ SHEVA: Vatican Preparing to Recognize PA as 'Palestine': Foreign Ministry warns that the Vatican's step will not bring peace, may change Israel-Vatican relations. » | Nitzan Keidar | Wednesday, May 13, 2015
