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| Pope begins final day of Middle East visit | Pope begins final day of Middle East visit |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pope Francis is to visit Israel's national Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, on the final leg of his three-day Middle East tour. | Pope Francis is to visit Israel's national Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, on the final leg of his three-day Middle East tour. |
| After arriving in Israel on Sunday, the Pope described the Holocaust as "an enduring symbol of the depths to which human evil can sink". | |
| On Monday, Francis was also expected to visit religious sites in Jerusalem and hold talks with Israel's chief rabbis. | |
| His tour has already taken in Jordan and the Palestinian territories. | His tour has already taken in Jordan and the Palestinian territories. |
| On Sunday, the Pope invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican to pray for peace. Both accepted. | On Sunday, the Pope invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican to pray for peace. Both accepted. |
| Monday's itinerary began with a meeting with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which is situated on a disputed holy site known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and Jews as the Temple Mount. | |
| The Pope entered the Dome of the Rock, from where Islamic tradition says the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. | |
| Later, he will visit the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism. It is part of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount dating back to a time when a Jewish temple stood there. | |
| Before visiting Yad Vashem, the Pope is to lay a wreath at the tomb of Theodor Herzl, who is seen as the founder of modern Zionism. | Before visiting Yad Vashem, the Pope is to lay a wreath at the tomb of Theodor Herzl, who is seen as the founder of modern Zionism. |
| Three previous pontiffs who have visited Jerusalem over the past 50 years have not visited the site. | Three previous pontiffs who have visited Jerusalem over the past 50 years have not visited the site. |
| The move was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. | The move was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. |
| "We commend and appreciate your decision to lay a wreath on the grave of Binyamin Zev Herzl," Mr Netanyahu said, using Theodor Herzl's Hebrew name. | "We commend and appreciate your decision to lay a wreath on the grave of Binyamin Zev Herzl," Mr Netanyahu said, using Theodor Herzl's Hebrew name. |
| The official purpose for the Pope's visit to the Holy Land is to improve ties with the Orthodox Church. | The official purpose for the Pope's visit to the Holy Land is to improve ties with the Orthodox Church. |
| However, it comes just weeks after peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down. | However, it comes just weeks after peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down. |
| On Sunday, Francis talked of the "tragic consequences of the protracted conflict" and the need "to intensify efforts and initiatives" to create a stable peace, based on a two-state solution. | On Sunday, Francis talked of the "tragic consequences of the protracted conflict" and the need "to intensify efforts and initiatives" to create a stable peace, based on a two-state solution. |
| Later on Monday the Pope will travel to Tel Aviv, from where he will fly back to Rome. |