Pope Francis
Photo: AP
Pope Francis says intends to visit Israel
During meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Elkin, Pope Francis says he has plans to visit Jewish state
Three months after succeeding Benedict XVI , Pope Francis has intimated he is planning a visit to Israel.
On Wednesday, the Pope met with Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin as part of Israel's ongoing dialogue with the Vatican.
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The two discussed the payment of property tax by churches in Israel. The Pope asked Elkin to push for an agreement on the matter.
The meeting was held at the Pope's residence rather than the reception hall, at the Pope's request. At the end of the meeting, the deputy foreign minister presented the Pope with a silver embossment of Jerusalem and invited him to visit Israel, to which he replied that he has every intention of doing so.
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