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Pope Francis plans Mideast trip

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday announced a trip to the Holy Land to boost relations with Orthodox Christians.

The three-day visit in May also underscores Francis’ close ties to the Jewish community, his outreach to Muslims, and the Vatican’s longstanding call for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Francis told thousands gathered in the rain for his weekly Sunday blessing that he would visit Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem from May 24 to 26. It is the second foreign trip of Francis’ pontificate, following his 2013 visit to Brazil.

Francis, an Argentine Jesuit, will be the fourth pope to visit the Holy Land since 1964, when Paul VI visited.

In his Christmas address, Francis singled out the Holy Land for prayers, saying, “Bless the land where you chose to come into the world, and grant a favorable outcome to the peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.”