The Advocate - Pope invites leaders of Palestine, Israel to Vatican
JERUSALEM — Pope Francis pursued peace of both body and soul here Sunday, inviting the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians to the Vatican to pray for peace and later embracing his own estranged Christian brother, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Representatives of the president of Israel and the Palestinian Authority said they would accept Francis' offer, although it was questionable how productive the event could be. The Israeli presidency is largely ceremonial.
