Abbas extends vatican’s pope invitation to visit holy land

President Mahomud Abbas Thursday met with Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in Rome’s Vatican City and extended an invitation for the pope to visit the Holy Land. The pope welcomed Abbas, saying: “I am so honored to meet with you here and hope that you feel at home.” Abbas expressed his delight over visiting Vatican and meeting with the pope for the first time. The pope gave Abbas  a Vatican pen in appreciation of Abbas' position and his efforts to achieve peace, of which Abbas hoped he will sign the peace agreement with the Israeli side. Meanwhile, Abbas gave the pope a model of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in addition to the first bible printed in Palestine. The meeting was attended by several Palestinian officials and ambassadors.