( dpa ) - Pope Benedict XVI and US President George W Bush Wednesday advocated for the two-state solution in the Middle East, according to a joint statement released after the leaders met at the White House.
The two men devoted "considerable time" to Middle East issues, in particular to "resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict in line with the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and security," the statement said.
The leaders also spoke out in support of Lebanon's independence and sovereignty, and discussed "common concern" for the situation in Iraq and the "precarious state of Christian communities" in Iraq and in the region.