Pope Francis: Israeli And Palestinian Presidents Invited to Vatican

Pope Francis has opened the doors of Vatican to Palestinian Pres. Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Pres. Shimon Peres after the celebration of the Holy Mass on Sunday morning in the open air of Manger Square, Bethlehem. The surprise invitation which occurred after the recitation of Regina Coeli confirmed Pope Francis' reputation as peace-loving individual.

According to the Vatican News, Pope Francis said, "In this, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, I wish to invite you, President Mahmoud Abbas, together with President Shimon Peres, to join me in heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace. I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer."

During the second leg of Pope Francis' three-day visit to the Middle East, he was greeted at the Manger Square with Palestinian Christians jubilantly waving their flags while shouting, "Viva al-Baba!" - or "Long live the pope!" Images of Christ's suffering were hung all around the plaza.

The Pontiff also cited many people build peace daily through small gestures and acts. Many of those people are suffering yet they are patiently persevering to be peacemakers. He also emphasized the duty of the officials at the service to their people to pray and become instruments and artisans of peace.

"Building peace is difficult, but living without peace is a constant torment. The men and women of these lands, and of the entire world, all of them, ask us to bring before God their fervent hopes for peace," Pope Francis noted.

The Holy Mass which Pope Francis officiated started with the song Mawatani (My Homeland), a Palestinian song that expresses independence. At the altar, Baby Jesus was swathed in the traditional Arabic scarf called keffiyeh symbolizing the Palestinian's nationalism.

Prior to the celebration of the Holy Mass, Pope Francis delivered his carefully worded message with the presence of Pres. Abbas at the separation wall.

In an article from The Guardian, the Pontiff said the Middle East has been known for decades the tragic consequences of protracted conflict which has inflicted many wounds so difficult to heal.

He declared the situation has become "increasingly unacceptable" and called on both Palestine and Israel to take the initiative to forge peace. He said both sides need to make sacrifices to create two states with international recognized borders based on mutual security and rights for everyone.

"The time has come for everyone to find the courage to be generous and creative in the service of the common good," Pope Francis stressed.