Pope receives Palestinian President Abbas

Pope receives Palestinian President AbbasVatican City - Pope Benedict XVI in talks Wednesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope that a "just and lasting solution," would be found to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

During their 15-minute meeting in the Apostolic Palace the two leaders held "cordial discussions" in which they also recalled Benedict's trip to the Holy Land earlier this year, the Vatican said in a statement.

"The dialogue focused on the situation in the Middle East and, in particular, on the need to find a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which the rights of everyone are recognized and respected," the statement said.

"In this context, emphasis was given to the importance of co-operation and mutual respect between the parties involved, and of the support of the international community," it added.

"Reference was also made to the situation of Catholics in Palestine, and in the region more generally, and to the contribution they make to social life and to peaceful coexistence among peoples," the statement said.

During their meeting the two exchanged gifts with Abbas offering the pontiff a mosaic depicting an image of ancient Jerusalem, inscribed in Arabic with the words "Jerusalem the capital of Arab culture."

Benedict in exchange gifted the Palestinian president an image of St Peter's Square in bas relief made of pewter and ceramic. (dpa)