Pope Benedict XVI and Islam

Pope Francis on Friday called for interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance and urged more help for refugees from Syria and Iraq.

In a speech in Ankara the pontiff also called for renewed efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, which "for too long has been a theatre of fratricidal wars".

Pope Francis says he wishes to overcome the obstacles between the Orthodox and the Catholic churches during his visit to Turkey late November Pope Francis said Oct. 24 he wished to overcome the obstacles between the Orthodox and the Catholic churches during his visit to Turkey late November.
      

Pope Francis is set to become the fourth Pope to visit Turkey, after the Vatican published details of an upcoming three-day visit to Ankara and Istanbul.

Pope Francis is expected to pay an official visit to Turkey later this autumn, eight years after his predecessor, Benedict XVI, paid a landmark official visit from the Holy See to the country.

Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet at the Vatican and pray for peace together at an unprecedented gathering on June 8, the Vatican said on May 30.

Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accepted on Sunday Pope Francis' invitation to both leaders pray for peace at the Vatican.