Vatican: Prayer meeting between pope, Israel and Palestinian presidents to be held June 8

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican says the prayer meeting at the Vatican with the pope and the Israeli and Palestinian presidents will take place on June 8.

The Vatican said in a statement Thursday that both sides accepted the date. It said the meeting would take place in the afternoon.

Pope Francis invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to join him for a day of prayer during his recent trip to the Middle East. Both men immediately accepted the offer.