Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin engages in talks to address Lebanon’s presidential crisis

BETH KERKE, Lebanon — Amidst Lebanon’s prolonged presidential vacuum, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, met with Lebanese political figures to discuss the nation’s pressing issues and the overall situation.

In a meeting convened by the Syriac Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mor Bechara Boutros al-Rai, Parolin engaged with leaders of both Christian and Islamic denominations. He emphasized the importance of preserving the unique Lebanese model in a region fraught with conflicts. Parolin expressed hope for collective cooperation to resolve the crisis and find viable solutions, underscoring that his visit aims to facilitate the election of a president.

Patriarch al-Rai described the gathering with sect leaders and parliamentary blocs in Beth Kerke (Bkerke) as a familial dialogue for Lebanon.

Cardinal Parolin is scheduled to hold additional meetings with Lebanese political and spiritual leaders to further address the presidential election deadlock, as well as issues concerning the south of the country and the displacement crisis.