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Pope on final day of Mid-East visit

Written By blogger on Sunday, May 25, 2014 | 9:05 PM

Pope Francis is to visit Israel's national Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, on the final leg of his three-day Middle East tour.

After landing in Israel on Sunday, the Pope described the Holocaust as "an enduring symbol of the depths to which human evil can sink".

Francis will also visit religious sites in Jerusalem and hold talks with the two chief rabbis of Israel.

His tour has already taken in Jordan and the Palestinian territories.

On Sunday, the Pope invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican to pray for peace. Both accepted.

Monday's itinerary begins with a visit to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem - the Muslim cleric in charge of the city's Islamic holy places - and a visit to the Western Wall.

Before visiting Yad Vashem, the Pope is to lay a wreath at the tomb of Theodor Herzl, who is seen as the founder of modern Zionism.

Pope Francis with President Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv Francis met Israeli President Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv on Sunday

Three previous pontiffs who have visited Jerusalem over the past 50 years have not visited the site.

The move was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

"We commend and appreciate your decision to lay a wreath on the grave of Binyamin Zev Herzl," Mr Netanyahu said, using Theodor Herzl's Hebrew name.

The official purpose for the Pope's visit to the Holy Land is to improve ties with the Orthodox Church.

However, it comes just weeks after peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down.

On Sunday, Francis talked of the "tragic consequences of the protracted conflict" and the need "to intensify efforts and initiatives" to create a stable peace, based on a two-state solution.

Later on Monday the Pope will travel to Tel Aviv from where he will fly back to Rome.


Pope on final day of Mid-East visit

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