Pope Francis expressed on Thursday April 22 the wish to visit Lebanon "as
soon as the conditions are met
" during an interview with the prime minister designate of that country, Saad Hariri, the Vatican said.
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During the private audience of about thirty minutes granted to Saad Hariri, “
the Pope wanted to reiterate his closeness to the Lebanese people who are living at a time of great difficulties and uncertainty and recalled the responsibility of all political forces to make an urgent commitment for the benefit of the nation,
”the head of the Vatican press service, Matteo Bruni, told reporters. "
While reaffirming his own wish to visit the country as soon as the conditions are met, Pope Francis expressed the wish that Lebanon, helped by the international community, will once again embody the strength of the cedars, the diversity that from weakness becomes strength in a great people reconciled with its vocation to be a land of encounter, cohabitation and pluralism
», Concluded Matteo Bruni.
After more than eight months of blockage, and despite the crisis hitting the country which needs a government capable of launching reforms, the Lebanese parties are still entangled in interminable negotiations, quarreling as often the distribution of ministerial portfolios.
