At the end of his visit to the Vatican, the mayor of Nazareth, Ali Salam, announced that Pope Francis intends to make a second visit to the Holy Land during the next year, at the invitation of the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
He added that the Pope would hold prayers in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth, in order to push the peace process in the Middle East.
Salam said he felt the Pope’s avid desire to advance the peace process. He also noted that sources in the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government have informed him that contacts were underway between the two sides with the Vatican, to coordinate the date of the visit and its detailed program.
Stressing the possibility of organizing the trip in 2020, Salam revealed that the date was yet to be set.
The mayor of Nazareth met Pope Francis in the Vatican on Thursday, in response to an official invitation from the Vatican.
According to a statement issued by the municipality, Salam spoke with His Holiness the Pope about Nazareth, and its importance as the largest Palestinian Arab city in Israel and where Jesus lived the longest period of his life.
He also invited Pope Francis to visit the city and invite Christian pilgrims to discover the region.
Pope Francis conducted his first visit to the holy Palestinian territories in 2014.
