Vatican Says Policy towards Lebanon 'Fixed', Tasks al-Rahi with Following Presidential Elections

The Vatican stressed on Wednesday that its agenda regarding the Lebanese presidential elections is explicit, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported.

According to the daily, the Vatican tasked Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi with following up the matter.

The newspaper said that the Vatican will only intervene to facilitate disputes over the upcoming presidential elections if the process was hindered by any obstacles.

“The Vatican is seeking to sponsor a presidential settlement with Arab and International sides, a source at the Vatican told al-Joumhouria.

President Michel Suleiman’s tenure ends in May 2014, but the constitutional period to elect a new head of state begins on March 25, two months prior to the expiration of Suleiman’s mandate.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil discussed on Tuesday with prominent figures at the Vatican the importance of maintaining stability in Lebanon to facilitate the cabinet's mission to oversee the upcoming presidential elections.

Bassil held talks with the Vatican's secretary for Relations with States, Cardinal Pietro Barawlin, the Vatican foreign minister, Monsignor Dominique Mamberti and Monsignor Alberto Ortega, who is in charge of the file of the Lebanese state at the Vatican.

A Vatican source described Bassil's visit as a normal visit carried out by any Lebanese official.

“It will not change in the Vatican's policy towards Lebanon,” the source said.