The heads of religious communities and representatives of political parties gathered on Tuesday in Bkerke, in response to an invitation from the Maronite Patriarch, Bechara Rai, to meet the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
During the meeting, Cardinal Parolin said that Lebanon is experiencing many conflicts and that “it is imperative that Lebanon serves as a model for harmonious coexistence.”
As for Rai, he pointed out that the Lebanese are the children of hope and courage, and that “the Vatican offers us the hope we need.”
The Maronite Patriarch also called for a day of prayer on Sunday for peace in South Lebanon and Gaza. He stressed the importance of Tuesday's meeting in Bkerke, hoping it would be fruitful.
Among the personalities attending the meeting were Mufti Abdellatif Deriane, the Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox, Aram I Kechichian, the Armenian Catholic Patriarch, Raphael Bedross Minassian XXI, the head of the Alawite Higher Council, Ali Kaddour, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement (CPL), Gebran Bassil, the head of the Marada, Sleiman Frangieh, and MP Pierre Bou Assi, representing the head of the Lebanese Forces (FL), Samir Geagea. Only the representative of the Shiite Supreme Council did not attend, insisting, however, on the importance of the relationship of the Council with the Vatican.
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, arrived in Beirut on Sunday afternoon for a four-day visit of “friendship and trust,” at the invitation of the President of the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta, Marwan Sehnaoui.
During the meeting, Cardinal Parolin said that Lebanon is experiencing many conflicts and that “it is imperative that Lebanon serves as a model for harmonious coexistence.”
As for Rai, he pointed out that the Lebanese are the children of hope and courage, and that “the Vatican offers us the hope we need.”
The Maronite Patriarch also called for a day of prayer on Sunday for peace in South Lebanon and Gaza. He stressed the importance of Tuesday's meeting in Bkerke, hoping it would be fruitful.
Among the personalities attending the meeting were Mufti Abdellatif Deriane, the Catholicos of the Armenian Orthodox, Aram I Kechichian, the Armenian Catholic Patriarch, Raphael Bedross Minassian XXI, the head of the Alawite Higher Council, Ali Kaddour, the head of the Free Patriotic Movement (CPL), Gebran Bassil, the head of the Marada, Sleiman Frangieh, and MP Pierre Bou Assi, representing the head of the Lebanese Forces (FL), Samir Geagea. Only the representative of the Shiite Supreme Council did not attend, insisting, however, on the importance of the relationship of the Council with the Vatican.
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, arrived in Beirut on Sunday afternoon for a four-day visit of “friendship and trust,” at the invitation of the President of the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta, Marwan Sehnaoui.
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