Pope hears Kissinger's views on Middle East

Dr Henry Kissinger, US Secretary of State, spent more than an hour with Pope Paul at the Vatican to discuss world problems — in particular the situation in the Middle East.
A Vatican spokesman said the two held open and cordial discussions during which Dr Kissinger briefed the Pontiff on his recent travels in the Middle East and the Moscow Summit between President Nixon and Mr Brezhnev, the Soviet leader.
President Nixon's personal envoy to the Holy See, Mr henry Cabot Lodge. told reporters that the talks dealt ;sail the general outlook for world peace. The question of the future status of Jerusalem was brought up within this context, he said.
The Vatican, which maintains a close interest in Middle East developments, is pressing for a special status for the holy city, hacked by international guarantees. It is believed that Dr Kissinger informed the Pope of Israeli and Arab views on this idea, and that the Pontiff explained the proposal in further Vatican spokesman Federico Alessandrini said the Pope expressed particular appreciation for US peace initiatives and for the Secretary of State's personal contribution in the service of peace. The Pope also urged the US government to continue working for peace "in spite of the numerous and serious difficulties," the spokesman said.
Before Dr Kissinger left Rome, he told reporters at the airport that his talks with Italian government leaders had been conducted in an extremely friendly and warm atmosphere. "1 think I can say that we found complete unanimity on all subjects discussed," he added. But he declined to comment on his talks at the Vatican.
Official sources said Dr Kissinger assured Italian leaders yesterday that they could count on US help in times of need. But the sources said the question of a specific US loan to help Italy overcome its gravest economic crisis since the second world war had not been discussed.