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Pope sends prayers to Israel after death of Shimon Peres


Shimon Peres

Shimon Peres

The Pope has sent a telegram full of "heartfelt condolence" to the people of Israel, after the death of the former President, Shimon Peres.

He died this morning (Wednesday, September 28) in a hospital in Tel Aviv, at the age of 93.

Peres, the President of Israel from 2007-2014, and twice the country's Prime Minister, met three Popes, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Just weeks after Peres had welcomed the Pope to Israel in May 2014, he came to the Vatican for an unprecedented prayer meeting with the Pope and Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority.

In his telegram the Pope said: "I fondly recall my time with Mr Peres at the Vatican and renew my great appreciation for the late President's tireless efforts in favour of peace."

He added: "As the State of Israel mourns Mr Peres, I hope that his memory and many years of service will inspire us all to work with ever greater urgency for peace and reconciliation between peoples." The Pope concluded: "In this way, his legacy will truly be honoured."

His final meeting with Peres at the Vatican occurred on June 20, this year.

In 1994, Shimon Peres won the Nobel Peace Prize with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat for their efforts to bring peace to the Middle East.

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