Israeli President Shimon Peres on Thursday welcomed the new Pope Francis and invited him to visit the Holy Land at the earliest possibility, his office said.
At a meeting at his Jerusalem residence with the leaders of the Catholic Church in Poland, Peres said : "The newly elected Pope represents devotion, the love of God, the love of peace, a holy modesty and a new continent which is now awakening. We need, more than ever, a spiritual leadership and not just a political one. Where political leaders may divide, spiritual leaders may unite. Unite around a vision, unite around values, unite around a faith that we can make the world a better place to live. May the Lord Bless the new Pope."
He added, "I would like to take this opportunity to invite the newly elected Pope to pay a visit to the Holy Land at the earliest possibility."
"He'll be a welcome guest in the Holy Land, as a man of inspiration that can add to the attempt to bring peace in a stormy area. All people here, without exception, without difference of religion or nationality will welcome the newly elected Pope."
The President stressed that relations between the Vatican and the Jewish people "are now at their best" in the last 2000 years. "I hope they will grow in content and depths."