(see related)
Virtually everyone in the
Holy See was skeptical about Pope Francis' invitation to the
Palestinian and Israeli presidents to attend a prayer meeting in
Vatican City, the pontiff said Friday.
"Some 99% of them said we shouldn't do it," Francis told
Spanish daily La Vanguardia. "I heard from people we were
overreaching...then the 1% grew".
On Sunday, the pope welcomed Israeli President Shimon Peres
and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to the Vatican Gardens for
prayer after making a surprise invitation during his visit to
the Holy Land last month.
The Vatican said the success of the event was symbolized at
one point in an embrace shared by Abbas and Peres.
According to Francis, he decided to visit the Holy Land in
light of Peres' upcoming retirement later this summer.
"I knew his term was coming to an end. One way or another,
I had to visit him first," said the pope.
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