New papal envoy to Israel hopes to foster peace

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto as a new envoy to Israel, who will also serve as apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine.

Lazzarotto, a 70-year-old Italian prelate, told Vatican Radio Saturday that he will do his best "in the cause of dialogue and peace" and said that there are "many men and women of good will who live in the Holy Land."

Vatican Radio noted that Lazzarotto is familiar with the region, because he first served as a papal envoy in Jordan and Iraq from 1994-2000. His most recent posting had been as papal envoy to Australia.