Pontiff renews calls for ceasefire in Gaza.Israeli president Isaac Herzog is to meet Pope Leo XIV for talks at the Vatican on Thursday, at the invitation of the pontiff, the president's office confirmed on Tuesday.Herzog’s office said the talks will focus on the effort to bring back the hostages from Gaza, tackling antisemitism around the world, and protecting Christian communities in the Middle East. After his audience with Pope Leo on Thursday morning, Herzog will hold talks with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, according to the Holy See press office. The audience with the pope will be the second encounter between the two leaders who met on the occasion of the pontiff's inaugural Mass on 18 May. Last week Pope Leo added his voice to a joint appeal from the Latin and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem - Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos III respectively - for peace in Gaza and for humanitarian aid to flow freely into the enclave. Photo credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com.

Israeli president Isaac Herzog is to meet Pope Leo XIV for talks at the Vatican on Thursday, at the invitation of the pontiff, the president's office confirmed on Tuesday. Herzog’s office said the talks will focus on the effort to bring back the hostages from Gaza, tackling antisemitism around the world, and protecting Christian communities in the Middle East. After his audience with Pope Leo on Thursday morning, Herzog will hold talks with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, according to the Holy See press office. The audience with the pope will be the second encounter between the two leaders who met on the occasion of the pontiff's on 18 May. Last week Pope Leo added his voice to a joint appeal from the Latin and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem - Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos III respectively - for peace in Gaza and for humanitarian aid to flow freely into the enclave. Photo credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com.