Pope Francis Intends to Visit Jerusalem Again

Pope Francis waves from his Papamobile at St. Louis Catholic Church in Bangkok, Thailand November 21, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
Pope Francis waves from his Papamobile at St. Louis Catholic Church in Bangkok, Thailand November 21, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
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Pope Francis Intends to Visit Jerusalem Again

Pope Francis waves from his Papamobile at St. Louis Catholic Church in Bangkok, Thailand November 21, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
Pope Francis waves from his Papamobile at St. Louis Catholic Church in Bangkok, Thailand November 21, 2019. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

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.



Trump Envoy Witkoff to Travel to Europe and Discuss Gaza, US Official Says 

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff looks on as US President Donald Trump signs the “Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," at the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 16 July 2025. (EPA)
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff looks on as US President Donald Trump signs the “Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," at the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 16 July 2025. (EPA)
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Trump Envoy Witkoff to Travel to Europe and Discuss Gaza, US Official Says 

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff looks on as US President Donald Trump signs the “Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," at the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 16 July 2025. (EPA)
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff looks on as US President Donald Trump signs the “Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act," at the White House, Washington, DC, USA, 16 July 2025. (EPA)

US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Europe this week for meetings on Israel's war in Gaza and a range of other issues, a US official said on Tuesday, adding Witkoff will continue pushing for a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

Axios reported that Witkoff is expected to depart for Rome on Wednesday and arrive on Thursday for a meeting with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and a senior Qatari envoy.

If sufficient progress is made, Witkoff will travel from Rome to Doha toward the end of the week to secure a deal, the news website reported, citing a US and an Israeli source.

Talks on a proposal for a 60-day Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas are being mediated by Qatar and Egypt with Washington's backing while the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave from US ally Israel's military assault continues to mount.

The ongoing war in Gaza has seen two ceasefires thus far, the most recent of which ended after two months when Israeli strikes killed over 400 Palestinians on March 18.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show.

Israel's subsequent military assault has killed over 59,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says.

The assault has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.