The Vatican has officially recognised the state of Palestine in a new treaty.
The treaty, which was finalised on Wednesday but still has to be signed, makes clear that the Holy See has switched its diplomatic relations from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation to the state of Palestine.
The Vatican had welcomed the decision by the UN General Assembly in 2012 to recognise a Palestinian state. But the treaty is the first legal document negotiated between the Holy See and the Palestinian state and constitutes an official recognition.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to see Pope Francis on Saturday before the canonisation of two new saints from the Holy Land a day later.
