In a controversial move, the Vatican announced on Wednesday they have a agreed on a treaty with the “state of Palestine” per CNN.

They said the treaty will be signed “in the near future.” Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis on Saturday. On Sunday the church is also planning to canonize two Palestinian nuns.

This treaty will be the first time the Holy See has formally recognized Palestinian statehood in a legal document. The Vatican in the past has stated a two-state solution is the best road to obtaining peace.

Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi said:

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Therefore there is a coherent continuity. Obviously there is an international agreement with the State of Palestine and this reaffirms the recognition.

It is said there are approximately 135 states that recognize Palestine as a state.

Pope Francis has tried to bring Palestine and Israeli leaders together in an effort to reach a peaceful solution but it did not work. During a trip to the Holy Land last May he also called for a Palestinian state and stopped his motorcade to pray at a wall that separated Bethlehem from Israel. It was a very symbolic moment that argued a lot of Jewish leaders.

The new treaty will “deal with essential aspects of the life and activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine” per the Vatican. The Pope and other Catholic leaders have voiced concern about the limited amount of Christians in the Holy Land. One area that has been affected is Bethlehem on the West Bank.

In response American Jewish leaders have said they were very disappointed with Vatican’s announcement. David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee said:

Formal Vatican recognition of Palestine, a state that, in reality, does not yet exist, is a regrettable move, counterproductive to all who seek true peace between Israel and the Palestinians.