President Abbas Arrives in Italy for a 3-Day Visit

SadaNews - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived today, Wednesday, in the Italian capital Rome, for an official visit to the Republic of Italy lasting three days.

During his visit, he is scheduled to meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Pope Francis.

Accompanying the president on this visit are: member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, head of the Presidential Committee for Church Affairs Ramzi Khoury, Executive Committee member Ziad Abu Amro, presidential advisor for diplomatic affairs Majdi Khaldi, Palestinian ambassador to Italy Mona Abu Amara, and Palestinian ambassador to the Vatican Issa Qassisia.

President Abbas visited the tomb of His Holiness Pope Francis at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the Italian capital Rome.

His Excellency laid a wreath at the tomb, in appreciation and acknowledgment from the Palestinian people for Pope Francis's humanitarian and honorable stances towards the Palestinian people and their just cause, particularly the recognition of the State of Palestine by the Holy See in 2015, and his historic visit to Palestine in 2014, during which he visited Bethlehem and East Jerusalem and affirmed his steadfast support for peace and justice from there.

During the visit, the president recalled Pope Francis's positions and statements calling for an end to the war in Gaza, and his phone calls with affected Palestinian families, including his contact with the Holy Family Church in Gaza, which expressed his profound humanity and constant concern for the oppressed, as well as his efforts to spread the values of mercy and peace in the world.