Preparations for the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Lebanon, scheduled for June 12 and 13, have begun.
Political sources familiar with the objectives of the visit conveyed that there is no doubt that there is a Vatican initiative that the Pope will announce, which will carry calls to all political parties in Lebanon to end conflicts, disagreements and divisions, and implement coexistence first, in compliance with the apostolic guidance and the Synod of the Middle East, and the Document of Human Fraternity. The message that Pope Francis signed with the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, because this is what distinguishes Lebanon, the message that the late Pope John Paul II launched during his visit to Lebanon in 1997, and the implementation of reforms to save the country and obtain international aid capable of lifting it from the bottom of the abyss, because the time has come. He does not carry any additional deadline, and therefore the luxury of time no longer exists, and His Holiness will also stress the application of neutrality and moving away from the policy of regional axes, preserving the unity of the state and entity, conducting real and final reconciliation, and turning a new page among the Lebanese.
The aforementioned sources believed that Pope Francis’ visit, undoubtedly, will bear a prominent and very striking title, the content of which is that he will return Lebanon to the international map, and that it is not abandoned by the most important religious and spiritual figure in the world. To meet with the head of the Orthodox Church, with the possibility of him visiting Jerusalem to meet the Patriarch of Russia.
On the internal Lebanese level, the same sources pointed out that the Pope will confirm his standing by the Lebanese people in their plight and difficulties, and he will have a very special gesture, by presiding over the ceremonial mass in the courtyard of the port of Beirut, or a visit by the Pope to the port to inspect that square, and to give a speech Important from there, stemming from hope and peace for Lebanon and the call to adhere to the true Christian-Islamic partnership, and to move towards a new Lebanon in its path, with promises of international aid that His Holiness will contribute to securing, by presenting the Lebanon file in important forums.