This morning the Pope received “in a private audience the Prime Minister designate of Lebanon, Saad Hariri. During the talks, which lasted about thirty minutes – explains Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni – the Pope wanted to reiterate his closeness to the Lebanese people, who he is living in a time of great difficulty and uncertainty, and he recalled the responsibility of all political forces to urgently commit themselves to the benefit of the nation “.
One hundred billion dollars blocked in the banks: thus Lebanon is strangled
by Sibylle Ritzk
“In reaffirming his desire to visit the country as soon as the conditions are right, Pope Francis – explains Bruni – expressed the hope that Lebanon, with the help of the international community, will once again embody ‘the fortress of cedars, the diversity that gives weakness becomes strength in the great reconciled people, with its vocation to be a land of encounter, coexistence and pluralism ‘”.
Pope Francis wishes to visit Lebanon, but after the formation of the government, the Lebanese prime minister-designate said on the sidelines of the meeting. “The Vatican knows who is hindering the formation of a government in Lebanon,” he added. I explained to Pope Francis the problems we suffer from and I asked his holiness to help Lebanon “.
Hariri will later meet with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghie and Foreign Minister Di Maio.
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