Pope Starts Two-Day Visit to Occupied Palestine

Local Editor

Pope Francis arrived in Bethlehem Sunday in a two-day visit to the occupied Palestinian territories.

He began his visit Saturday from Amman, then to the occupied territories aboard a Jordanian military helicopter.

The pontiff appeared tired as he was helped down the steps to a red carpet welcome from local Palestinian officials and priests.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas received him at his palace with a warm embrace.
The pope, who made an urgent appeal Saturday to end the crisis in Syria, has now taken his "pilgrimage of prayer" to the Palestinian occupied territories. There he was to celebrate mass with 10,000 people in Bethlehem's packed Manger Square.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin defended the Palestinians' right to a "sovereign and independent" homeland and said he hoped Francis's visit would lead to "courageous decisions" for peace.

Meanwhile, in al-Quds (Jerusalem), the enemy police arrested 26 Jewish extremists protesting at a site on Mount Zion where the pope will celebrate mass on Monday.
Pope Francis called for an end to the "increasingly unacceptable" "Israeli"-Palestinian conflict.

Source: Agencies