Vatican meets Lebanon

This morning, the Holy Father, Pope Francis received in audience at the Vatican Apostolic Palace, His Excellency, Michel Sleiman, President of the Republic of Lebanon.  Following his encounter with the Holy Father, the President also met with the Cardinal Secretary of State, His Eminence, Tarcisio Bertone and with the Vatican Secretary of State for Relations with States, His Excellency, dominique Mamberti.

In the course of the cordial meetings, the current situation of Lebanon was discussued, with particular attention paid to the importance of dialogue and collaboration between the members of the various ethnic and religious communities which compose that society, and the importance of drawing on this richness in favour of the common good, development and stability of the nation.  In this respect, best wishes were expressed for the formation of the new government of that country, which still faces major challenges both at national and international levels.

The participants in this morning's audience focused also on the regional situation in Lebanon, with special reference to the Syrian conflict. Of particular concern is the large number of Syrian refugees who have sought refuge in Lebanon and neighboring countries, a situation which has necessitated greater humanitarian assistance with the support of the international community for the sake of the great numbers of suffering people. It is also hoped that a speedy and successful resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians will come to pass, something which is more and more necessary for the peace and stability of the region.