VATICAN CITY (AP) -- 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.