Abbas meets Pope Francis in Bethlehem
World |
Pope Francis will meet families and children from Palestinian refugee camps. Thousands of people have congregated at the court of the Church of the Nativity to see the pope. This is the Pope's first visit to the Al-Quds since he was elected in March 2013
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday met with Pope Francis of the Vatican in the central West Bank city of Bethlehem. The pontiff had arrived in the holy city earlier in the day from Jordan at the start of a brief visit.
Pope Francis was welcomed by a host of senior officials from the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian government. He is expected to meet later with some families and children from Palestinian refugee camps as part of his visit to Bethlehem.
The pontiff is also expected to hold a mass at the Church of the Nativity. He is also expected to visit Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) where he will visit Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as some Christian sites.
- Pope Francis arrives in Bethlehem
Pope Francis on Sunday arrived in the central West Bank city of Bethlehem on his first visit to the holy city since assuming the papacy in March of last year.
The Pope arrived on board a helicopter from Jordan, the first leg of his three-day tour that is also expected to take him to Israel.
Bethlehem has been adorned to its fullest with cheering crowds waited eagerly to welcome the pontiff.
Thousands of people have congregated at the court of the Church of the Nativity, most of them on tenter-hooks to have a glimpse of the pope who will spend a short time in the holy city.
Apart from Christian sites, Pope Francis is also expected to visit the Dome of the Rock inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem), Azzam al-Khatib, the chief of religious endowments in Al-Quds, told Anadolu Agency earlier Sunday.
Pope Francis is also expected to meet with Grand Mufti of Al-Quds Sheikh Mohamed Hussein.
The pontiff will also meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
He will also travel to Israel.
- Pope Francis to visit Dome of the Rock
Pope Francis will on Monday make a tour of the Dome of the Rock inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as part of his visit to the Palestinian territories, Al-Quds endowments chief Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib said Sunday.
"The Pope will meet with Grand Mufti of Al-Quds Sheikh Mohamed Hussein as well as some Islamic and Christian figures in the city," al-Khatib told Anadolu Agency.
"The pontiff will meet the Grand Mufti at the Dome of the Rock courtyard," he added.
Pope Francis started a visit to the Middle East region on Saturday from Jordan where he had met King Abdullah II and held a mass in Amman stadium.
Al-Khatib said the Pope's visit to the Al-Quds underlines the importance of coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the holy city.
This is the Pope's first visit to the Al-Quds since he was elected in March 2013.
Pope Francis was welcomed by a host of senior officials from the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian government. He is expected to meet later with some families and children from Palestinian refugee camps as part of his visit to Bethlehem.
The pontiff is also expected to hold a mass at the Church of the Nativity. He is also expected to visit Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) where he will visit Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as some Christian sites.
- Pope Francis arrives in Bethlehem
Pope Francis on Sunday arrived in the central West Bank city of Bethlehem on his first visit to the holy city since assuming the papacy in March of last year.
The Pope arrived on board a helicopter from Jordan, the first leg of his three-day tour that is also expected to take him to Israel.
Bethlehem has been adorned to its fullest with cheering crowds waited eagerly to welcome the pontiff.
Thousands of people have congregated at the court of the Church of the Nativity, most of them on tenter-hooks to have a glimpse of the pope who will spend a short time in the holy city.
Apart from Christian sites, Pope Francis is also expected to visit the Dome of the Rock inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem), Azzam al-Khatib, the chief of religious endowments in Al-Quds, told Anadolu Agency earlier Sunday.
Pope Francis is also expected to meet with Grand Mufti of Al-Quds Sheikh Mohamed Hussein.
The pontiff will also meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
He will also travel to Israel.
- Pope Francis to visit Dome of the Rock
Pope Francis will on Monday make a tour of the Dome of the Rock inside Al-Aqsa Mosque compound as part of his visit to the Palestinian territories, Al-Quds endowments chief Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib said Sunday.
"The Pope will meet with Grand Mufti of Al-Quds Sheikh Mohamed Hussein as well as some Islamic and Christian figures in the city," al-Khatib told Anadolu Agency.
"The pontiff will meet the Grand Mufti at the Dome of the Rock courtyard," he added.
Pope Francis started a visit to the Middle East region on Saturday from Jordan where he had met King Abdullah II and held a mass in Amman stadium.
Al-Khatib said the Pope's visit to the Al-Quds underlines the importance of coexistence between Muslims and Christians in the holy city.
This is the Pope's first visit to the Al-Quds since he was elected in March 2013.
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