The Vatican has called for a special juridical status of Jerusalem aimed at preserving the city's holy sites, coupled with special status for local religious communities. This view was expressed by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who has been in charge of Vatican Foreign Affairs for 13 years. He said that there could not be peace in the Middle East "if we forego an equitable settlement of the Jerusalem issue", adding that "the entire international community should pursue involvement in safeguarding the city and the universal values it stands for". He also noted however that the Vatican would not submit proposals for legal solutions as they were best left to experts.
According to the cardinal, Jerusalem must not be turned into "a collection of rocks and sanctuaries for pilgrims". The Catholic Church was deeply concerned at the fact that many Christians were leaving the city. "The sanctuaries must be imbued with people, live communities, schools, hospitals, craftsmen". The Pope wishes Jerusalem "and its various religious communities, may set the example in solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a pacifying bond between Arabs and Israelis, between Jews, Christians and Muslims". No religion could claim supremacy over others in Jerusalem.