Israeli President Shimon Peres is set to meet Pope Francis on a three-day visit to Italy that will begin on Monday

[29 Apr 2013]. At the ceremony he will receive the Medal of Honor for Peace and will be greeted by “hundreds of Franciscan monks” at the central Basilica, according to an official statement. “Peres will raise the issue of furthering peace and stability in the Middle East, progressing peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians… and the deepening of relations between Israel and the Vatican,” the statement said.