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Pope Francis Begins Middle East Tour


Pope Francis greets journalists aboard the papal flight on his way to Amman, Jordan, Saturday, May 24, 2014.
Pope Francis greets journalists aboard the papal flight on his way to Amman, Jordan, Saturday, May 24, 2014.
Pope Francis, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has arrived in Jordan on the first leg of his three-day Middle Eastern tour.

In Jordan, Francis will meet with King Abdullah, hold Mass in a stadium in Amman and, on the banks of the River Jordan, hear first-hand accounts of the suffering of Syrian refugees.

On Sunday, the pope will journey to Bethlehem where he will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before lunching with Palestinian families in a refugee camp.

Pope Francis will visit the al-Aqsa Mosque compound Monday and will meet with Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammed Hussein. He will also go to Israel's national cemetery on Mount Herzl and to the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial.

Pope Francis is also scheduled to meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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