This Thursday Pope Benedict XVI will meet in separate audiences with the Chancellor of Saudi Arabia, Prince Saud Al-Faisal Bin Adbul Aziz Al-Said and with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

The ANSA news agency reports that the meetings will take place at the Pope’s summer residence of Castelgandolfo, some 25 kilometers south of Rome.

As was announced in Jerusalem and confirmed by the Holy See Press Office, that same day the Pope will meet with Israeli President Shimon Peres, who will be visiting Italy and the Vatican on his first foreign trip since taking office in July.