The Pope is like the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day. Despite the 300 prophecies of Jesus first coming they could not make the connection that Jesus was their long-awaited Messiah. Likewise, despite there being 1800 O.T. and at least 200 N.T. prophecies of Jesus’ second coming to rescue Israel and establish His Millennial reign from a new Jerusalem, the Pope sides with Abbas pushing for a two-state solution. Moreover, he obviously has no concern for the Palestinian Christians.

“And the Lord has declared today that you are a people for His treasured possession, as He has promised you, and that you are to keep all His commandments, and that He will set you in praise and in fame and in honor high above all nations that He has made, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as He promised.” Deuteronomy 26:18-19

Since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, the Palestinian Christian community under PA jurisdiction has dwindled. Palestinian Christians complain of Muslim land theft, harassment of Christian women, Christian businesses being forced to pay protection money and discriminatory taxes, and frequent robberies and vandalization of churches. Christians also face kidnapping and forced conversions. They also accuse the PA justice system of providing no legal recourse.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited the Vatican on Thursday where he had a private audience with Pope Francis.

A Vatican press release described the talks as “cordial” and called for renewed peace talks towards a two-state solution.

“With regard to the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians, it was stressed that it is absolutely necessary to reactivate direct dialogue in order to achieve a two-state solution, also with the help of more vigorous effort on the part of the international community,” the statement said.

“Lastly, it was reiterated that Jerusalem must be recognised by all as a place of encounter and not of conflict and that its status must preserve its identity and universal value as a Holy City for all three Abrahamic religions, also through a special internationally guaranteed status,” it added.

The Vatican recognized “The State of Palestine” in 2013. Later that year, Abbas made waves during a Christmas message when he insisted that Jesus was a Palestinian. While Israel criticized Abbas’ remarks, church officials were strangely silent.