Pope Leo and Israeli President Isaac Herzog will meet at the Vatican on Thursday, though the sides disagreed on who initiated the meeting.
The Israeli presidency issued a statement early on Tuesday saying Herzog would meet Leo at the pope's invitation.
In an unusual statement, the Vatican said on Tuesday evening: "It is the Holy See's practice to accede to requests for an audience with the pope made by Heads of State and Government; it is not its practice to extend invitations to them."
After the Vatican rebuff, a source in the Israeli president's office said Herzog had been scheduled to meet the late Pope Francis on a visit to Italy when Francis became ill and later died.
After Pope Leo’s inauguration, the new meeting was arranged in full coordination with the Vatican through diplomatic channels, the source said.
