Netanyahu to meet Pope Francis and Kerry in Rome next week

This is will be the prime minister's first meeting with the pope; Netanyahu will meet with US secretary of state on October 23.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, TOVAH LAZAROFF
Kerry and Netanyahu 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Kerry and Netanyahu 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is set to travel to Rome next week and meet with both Pope Francis and US Secretary of State John Kerry, his office announced on Wednesday.
It will be Netanyahu’s first meeting with the pope since his ordination in March.
The prime minister is expected to meet with Kerry on October 23 and discuss Iran and the ongoing peace talks.
President Shimon Peres met with the pope in April, and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein spoke with him at the Vatican last week.
Though reports circulated last week that the pope was planning to visit Israel in March, a Vatican spokesman said that while the pontiff was eager to visit Jerusalem, no specific plans have been made.
During his meeting with Edelstein, the pope said, “I will come, yes I’ll come,” in response to the Knesset speaker’s invitation.