AL-QUDS — Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will receive Pope Francis of the Vatican on May 25 as part of the pontiff's visit to the holy lands.

"The pope will arrive in Bethlehem on May 25," Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem told reporter on Monday.

"The main objective of this visit is to commemorate the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras [of Constantinople], which took place 50 years ago on the same day [May 25]," he added.

Abbas and a number of Palestinian officials will welcome the pontiff at the presidential headquarters in Bethlehem.

Pope Francis is also expected to have lunch with some Palestinian families and meet children from Aida and Dheisha refugee camps.