According to the Presidency Press Office, the president arrived in Beirut in the morning after participating in a mass last night at the monastery of Saint Charbel of the Lebanese Maronite Order in Rome.
The ceremony was officiated by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, head of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Holy See, who together with those present advocated for the good of Lebanon, “to remain faithful to its identity among the various countries of the Middle East”.
They also prayed for the end of the economic and social crisis that has plagued the Lebanese people for some time, aggravated as a result of the repercussions derived from the explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4th, 2020.
Last Monday, Aoun was received in audience by Pope Francis at the Holy See with the aim of addressing the socio-economic problems of Lebanon, the situation of refugees, the upcoming legislative elections and the reforms, which contribute to strengthening the peaceful coexistence between the different religious denominations.
The importance of good diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Lebanon, which will reach their 75th anniversary this year, was underlined during the cordial conversations at the Secretariat of State.
Aoun also held a meeting with his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, whom he thanked for the solidarity and help for the recovery of Lebanon.
pgh/llp/jcm/yma