Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis on Thursday, the Vatican announced on Tuesday.
Abbas and Francis last met at the Vatican in November 2021, according to Reuters. The P.A. leader is reportedly expected to sit down with the pope at the Vatican City’s Apostolic Palace, followed by a meeting with diplomatic officials, including Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
Abbas will reportedly visit Italy as part of the trip, where he will meet President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Both Francis and Meloni have recently become more outspoken in their criticism of Israel’s military actions against Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
A nativity scene that went on display at the Vatican on Saturday featured a picture of Jesus in a keffiyeh. The display comes at a time when a revisionist narrative has spread about Jesus having been a Palestinian.
The pre-Christmas event came just weeks after the Catholic leader called for an international investigation to determine if Israel’s actions in its war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza constituted “genocide.”
For her part, Meloni has told parliament that she blocked all arms deals with the Jewish state just weeks after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre. Among those murdered were three dual Italian-Israeli nationals.