Leo XIV receives the Lebanese Prime Minister before his trip and they hope for peace in the Middle East.
Vatican City, Oct 25 (EFE)
Pope Leo XIV received the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Nawaf Salam, in audience this Saturday ahead of his upcoming trip to the country. During the visit to the Vatican, the stability and peace of the Middle East were discussed.
Salam was joined in the audience at the Apostolic Palace by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri and other members of the Lebanese delegation, the Vatican reported in a statement.
They then met with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher.
During the meeting at the Secretariat of State, the “good bilateral relations” between Beirut and Rome were highlighted “with satisfaction,” according to the brief statement.
Furthermore, during this last audience, the “hope of the Lebanese people for the process of reform and stabilization” was confirmed, and the “desire for a soon-to-be full peace” of the entire Middle East was shared.
The audience between the pontiff and the Lebanese leaders takes place one month before Leo XIV’s first apostolic journey, much desired by his predecessor, Francis.
The trip will be divided into two stages between November 27 and December 2: first to Turkey to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, and then to Lebanon.
On June 13, one month after his election, Leo XIV received Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in audience.
