Pope Francis invited Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to come to Vatican City and pray for peace with him. 

During a mass held in Bethlehem, Francis said, "[I]n this, the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, I wish to invite you, President Mahmoud Abbas, together with President Shimon Peres, to join me in heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace." 

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The pope said he is offering his home in the Vatican to serve as a place where all three of them will have an encounter of prayer. The invitation came after talks aimed at ending the Middle East crisis collapsed last month. The talks were backed by the United States. 

Both Peres and Abbas accepted Francis' invitation to pray at the Vatican. 

A spokesperson of Peres said the Israeli president welcomes the pontiff's effort in order to achieve peace between Israel and its neighbors. 

A member of the PLO executive committee also said their leadership has accepted the pope's invitation. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres welcomed the pontiff in Tel Aviv before going to Jerusalem. Speaking to the pope, Netanyahu said his country extends a hand in peace, while Shimon thanked Francis for standing against anti-Semitism. 

Francis called on both Israelis and Palestinians to leave 'no stone unturned' to finally find peace in the Middle East. 

During his visit in the West Bank, a town in Bethlehem, Francis delivered a speech and encouraged the two leaders to find the courage to end the protracted war between Israel and Palestine. 

The pope also acknowledged the good relations Vatican has with Palestine. On Sunday, Abbas spoke to the pontiff and said that Israel is driving Muslims and Christians out of Jerusalem. 

Francis made what reports called an impassioned plea to achieve peace and urged the parties involved to refrain from actions that would run contrary to the objectives of achieving peace. 

The pope was referring to the creation of a Palestinian state that would peacefully co-exist with Israel.

TagsPope Francis, Mahmoud Abbas, Shimon Peres, State Visit