Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Saturday with Pope Francis a day before the Pope is due to canonize two Palestinian nuns, who will become the first Palestinian Arabs to gain sainthood.

The Palestinian flag was raised for the first time after the arrival of Abbas to the Vatican.

The meeting tackled boosting bilateral ties and the historic deep-rooted relations.

At the end of the official meeting, both exchanged gifts in the Apostolic Palace.

Abbas’s visit came to take part on the occasion of the canonization of two Ottoman-era Palestinian nuns; Mariam Baouardy Haddad from Ibillin village in the Galilee and Marie Alphonsine (Sultana Daniel) Ghattas from Jerusalem, to be held Sunday in the Vatican.