RAMALLAH, March 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday made a historic visit to Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem as one of the final stops of his regional tour.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accompanied Obama in his visit to the church, where Jesus was born. Obama toured the church and listened to a brief of its history before praying there.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III welcomed Obama in the church and presented him souvenirs.
A group of Palestinian children also welcomed Obama with Palestinian and American flags.
On Thursday, Obama visited Ramallah and met Abbas, renewing the U.S. commitment to help establish an independent Palestinian state, but he stressed that Palestinians should return to direct peace talks with Israel.
He will then depart Israel to Amman for a meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II.
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