Jerusalem:
Pope Francis on Monday made an impromptu stop at a memorial for Israeli civilians killed in deadly militant attacks as he visited the national cemetery in Jerusalem.
The unscheduled visit to the stone monument with black marble plaques in memory of the dead, which is located inside Mount Herzl cemetery, came just after Francis had laid a wreath on the grave of Theodore Herzl, founder of modern Zionism.
The unscheduled visit reportedly took place at the personal request of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, army radio reported.
It came after four people were killed on Saturday, including two Israelis, when a gunman opened fire on the Jewish Museum in Brussels, prompting the pope to say he was "profoundly saddened" as he landed in Israel on the final leg of his Middle East tour.
On Sunday, the pope made an unscheduled stop by the West Bank barrier, climbing out of his open jeep to pray, his forehead and hand resting against the wall, in a powerful show of support for Palestinians.
After visiting the cemetery, Pope Francis went directly to neighbouring Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial where he was expected to give an address.
The unscheduled visit to the stone monument with black marble plaques in memory of the dead, which is located inside Mount Herzl cemetery, came just after Francis had laid a wreath on the grave of Theodore Herzl, founder of modern Zionism.
The unscheduled visit reportedly took place at the personal request of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, army radio reported.
It came after four people were killed on Saturday, including two Israelis, when a gunman opened fire on the Jewish Museum in Brussels, prompting the pope to say he was "profoundly saddened" as he landed in Israel on the final leg of his Middle East tour.
On Sunday, the pope made an unscheduled stop by the West Bank barrier, climbing out of his open jeep to pray, his forehead and hand resting against the wall, in a powerful show of support for Palestinians.
After visiting the cemetery, Pope Francis went directly to neighbouring Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial where he was expected to give an address.
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