Agreement between Vatican and State of Palestine comes into force

Dr Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher representing the Holy See, at signing ceremony in June

The Holy See announced today (Saturday 2 Jan 2016) that the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine has come into full force.

The Comprehensive Agreement was signed by the Holy See and the State of Palestine on 26 June 2015. It "regards essential aspects of the life and activity of the Church in Palestine, while at the same time reaffirming the support for a negotiated and peaceful solution to the conflict in the region."

A joint statement released by the two parties stated that "The Agreement shall come into force when both Parties have notified each other in writing that the constitutional or internal requirements for the coming into force of the Agreement have been met."

The text of the official announcement follows:

Entry into force of the Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine

With reference to the Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine, signed on 26 June 2015, the Holy See and the State of Palestine have notified each other that the procedural requirements for its entry into force have been fulfilled, under the terms of Article 30 of the same Agreement.

The Agreement, consisting of a Preamble and 32 articles, regards essential aspects of the life and activity of the Church in Palestine, while at the same time reaffirming the support for a negotiated and peaceful solution to the conflict in the region.

Source: VIS

See also: L'Osservatore Romano report - Comprehensive agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine www.osservatoreromano.va/en/news/comprehensive-agreement-between-holy-see-and-state