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Pope Francis At The Vatican For Peace Prayer

Here are some quotes from the Associated Press that were published by the Top Nine online news service:

“Abbas, Perez Confirm They Will Meet Pope Francis At The Vatican For Peace Prayer

“Pope Francis plunged Sunday into Mideast politics during his Holy Land pilgrimage, calling the current stalemate in peace efforts “unacceptable” and winning the acceptance from the Israeli and Palestinian presidents to pay a symbolic visit to the Vatican next month to pray for peace.

“Jubilant Palestinians cheered Francis as he arrived in Bethlehem’s Manger Square, shouting “Viva al-Baba!” or “Long live the pope!” Giant Palestinian flags in red, white, green and black and the Vatican’s yellow-and-white flags decorated the square, which is home to the Church of the Nativity, built over the grotto where tradition says Jesus was born.

“At the end of Mass in the square, Francis invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres to pray with him for peace, saying: “I offer my home in the Vatican as a place for this encounter of prayer.”

“Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down in late April, and there have been no public high-level meetings for a year.”

President Barak Obama has been unable to kick start the all-but-dead Middle East Peace Process, despite the efforts of his inexperienced and inept envoy, John Kerry.

By inviting the Presidents of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to come and pray at the Vatican, Pope Francis has changed the landscape dramatically. It is no longer the U.S. that is the Broker of Peace in the Middle East. Now it is the Vatican. Pope Francis has, in one brilliant move, stolen the Middle East Peace negotiations away from Barak Obama.

By the way, it is very, very significant the day chosen for the Vatican prayers is Sunday, June 8 – the High Holy Day of Pentecost.

Leon Sexton

T. Leon Sexton

Reference – http://www.headnine.com/top/2014/05/25/israeli-and-palestinian-leaders-to-meet-with-pope-at_s_100555803.html#ref_3

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