Pope Francis on Monday met with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, and spoke by telephone with the Turkish president, amid growing violence between Israel and the Palestinians.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told Pope Francis that the continued messages from him carried great importance in mobilizing the Christian world and international community against Israel.
Turkey has condemned the violence and accused Israel of carrying out "ethnic, religious and cultural cleansing".
Pope also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was in Rome on a previously announced visit. The Vatican provided no comment on the content of the talks.