Pope Francis is greeted by pilgrims after arriving to celebrate Mass at Amman International Stadium in Jordan May 24. Celebrating Mass on his first day in the Holy Land, Pope Francis said hope for peace in a region torn by sectarian conflicts comes from faith in God.

Pope Francis pleads for peace and justice in Jordan address

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Pope Francis was barely off the plane in Amman, Jordan when he began to take on the hardest and most delicate issues in the Middle East – including refugees.

Pope Francis is welcomed by Jordan's King Abdullah II, his wife, Queen Rania, and their children upon his arrival at the al-Husseini Royal Palace in Amman, Jordan, May 24. The pope is making a three-day visit to the Holy Land, spending one day each in Jo rdan, the Palestinian territories and Israel.

At Amman Mass, Pope calls on Christians to promote peace

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AMMAN, Jordan - Celebrating Mass on his first day in the Holy Land, Pope Francis said hope for peace in a region torn by sectarian conflicts comes from faith in God.

Pope Francis arrives at the international airport in Rio de Janeiro July 22. The pope is making his first trip outside Italy to attend World Youth Day, the international Catholic youth gathering.

Pope, arriving in Holy Land, calls for religious freedom in Middle East

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AMMAN, Jordan - Pope Francis began a densely packed visit to the Holy Land with a call for religious freedom in the Middle East, including respect for the right to change one's religion.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Ecumenical Patriarch visits Bethlehem ahead of Pope meeting

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BETHLEHEM - As workers continue to assemble the stage on which Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in Manger Square, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the city of Jesus' birth, leading a procession of Orthodox bishops, priests and officials from the Palestinian Authority into the Church of the Nativity.

Catholic pilgrims walk past shops selling souvenirs May 20 on Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem's Old City. Many Holy Land residents say they are looking forward to Pope Francis' May 24-26 visit, despite inconveniences of crowds and traffic.

Bethlehem residents look forward to papal visit, despite inconveniences

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BETHLEHEM, West Bank - A long line of cars trailed down the road next to the Church of the Nativity as Franciscan Father Ibrahim Faltas helped coordinate the placement of the electricity generator for the May 25 papal Mass.

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