Pope announces Holy Land visit amid new push for peace - World NewsMax Rossi / ReutersPope Francis w...

1. utf8_encode(Pope announces Holy Land visit amid new push
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Pope announces Holy Land visit amid new push for peace - World News
Max Rossi / Reuters
Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus prayer from the window of the Apostolic palace in Saint
Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday.
By F. Brinley Bruton, Staff Writer, NBC News
Pope Francis has announced that he will make a pilgrimage to Israel, The West Bank and Jordan in
May, underscoring a fresh U.S. push for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
"As of now I ask you to pray for this pilgrimage," he told worshipers in St. Peter's Square on Sunday,
according to Vatican Radio.
Pope Francis said he would be visiting Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem May 24-26. While there, he

2. planned to meet with the representatives of the Christian Churches of Jerusalem, together with
Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.
They will celebrate Mass together at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where the
faithful believe Jesus was crucified and buried.
The announcement was made just as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrapped up three days of
talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a new bid for peace.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related:
Israel frees Palestinian prisoners, pledges to expand settlementsKerry to return to Palestinian
territories, Israel on Jan. 1 to push for peace
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