Abbas Meets Pope, Invites Him to Visit Holy Land

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday invited Pope Francis to visit the Holy Land, matching an invitation from Israel. The pontiff, who has made many appeals for peace in the Middle East since his election in March, has already told Israel he will visit and is widely expected to make the trip next year. “I invited him to the Holy Land,” Abbas said after a 30-minute private audience with the pope in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, their first meeting. After the private part ...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - jeudi 17 octobre 2013