Pope Francis prays at Bethlehem wall

Semiu Salami
Semiu Salami

Pope Francis has prayed at the concrete barrier Israel is building in and around the West Bank during his three-day tour of the Middle East.

The unscheduled stop came after he called for an end to the “increasingly unacceptable” Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Speaking in Bethlehem, the Pope invited the Israeli and Palestinian presidents to the Vatican to pray for peace.

The tour’s official purpose is to improve ties with the Orthodox Church.

It comes just weeks after peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down.

Later, the Pope will travel to Tel Aviv and then Jerusalem where he will meet Bartholomew I, the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople.

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