Vatican defends ‘angel of peace’ remark to Mahmoud Abbas even though he can’t verify it

As you all know it was widely reported that the Pope called Mahmoud Abbas an ‘angel of peace’ this weekend. But that may not be exactly what he said.

The Vatican spokesperson, who was present at the speech, did not actually hear the Pope’s exact words even though he is now defending them. He says the pope was trying to encourage Abbas to be an angel of peace, not calling him one at present:

ARUTZ SHEVA – Pope Francis’s reference to Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as “an angel of peace” was meant as encouragement for him to pursue peace with Israel, the Vatican insisted Monday, after the words whipped up controversy on social media.

The pope often presents heads of states with a large bronze medallion representing an “angel of peace”, and did so when he met Abbas on Saturday, when he used the phrase in remarks addressed to the president, according to journalists present.

His words – which came just days after the Vatican declared it was preparing to declare the PA a “state of Palestine” – were pounced on on social media amid accusations that AFP and other outlets mistranslated his words.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi was unable to clarify, but said it was clear what the pope’s meaning was, even if he could not verify his words, according to AFP.

“Each of us must be an angel of peace for others. I was present at the audience but I did not hear the pope’s exact words,” he said.

“The sense of encouragement seems clear to me, and this gift is presented to many presidents, not just Abbas,” he said.

Arutz Sheva wrote that Italian-language experts confirmed to them that the pope actually said that Abbas “may” or “could” be an “angel of peace”, trying to push him towards peace.

Several Italian-language experts confirmed that to Arutz Sheva on Monday, saying that Francis actually told Abbas that he “may” or “could” be an “angel of peace,” in an attempt to persuade him to return to peace talks with Israel.

You wouldn’t think an accurate translation would be all that hard to come by up front. Italian is one of the five romance languages. I mean, we aren’t talking Thai.


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