Vatican City, Nov 17, 2015 / 07:55 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Vatican announced today that Pope Francis will soon become the third-ever Roman Pontiff to visit the Great Synagogue in Rome, following in the footsteps of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

“Following the invitation from the Chief Rabbi and Jewish Community of Rome, Pope Francis will pay a visit to the Great Synagogue in the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016,” a Nov. 17 communique from the Vatican read.