The Vatican said yesterday that there are no plans for Pope Benedict XVI to visit Israel in the near future. The Pope has a standing invitation to visit the country and has expressed his wish to go.

Despite the recent renewal of his standing invitation by Israel, Vatican officials said that the Pope would not visit Israel until progress was made on issues over property, tax exemptions and visas.

Rev Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman said, "The Pope has a great desire to go to Israel, but along with general conditions of peace there should be positive signs on relations with the Holy See," reports AP.

Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel were first established in 1993. However, issues remain between the two states over the status of expropriated church property, tax exemptions for the Catholic Church, and permits for Arab Christian clergy travelling to and around the West Bank.