U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his first foreign trip will include stops to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Vatican.

"My first foreign trip as president of the United States will be to Saudi Arabia, then Israel, and then to a place that my cardinals love very much, Rome," Trump said.

Trump said in a White House ceremony with faith leaders that his first trip will start in Saudi Arabia and include meetings with leaders across the Muslim world. He said they would seek new cooperation to "combat terrorism and violence."

The announcement follows Trump's meeting on Wednesday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Trump's pledge to mediate peace efforts.

Trump also confirmed Thursday that the three stops would be added to an already announced visit to NATO and G7 summits in Brussels and Sicily later this month.

Meanwhile, the Vatican said on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Pope Francis on May 24, adding that the meeting would take place at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.