Al-Rahi to Visit Vatican, Discuss Presidential Impasse

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi is expected to travel to the Vatican on Thursday to meet with Pope Francis and senior officials.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Monday, talks will focus on the presidential deadlock and the exodus of Christians and minorities in Iraq and Syria.

Lebanon's top Christian post was left vacant in May this year when the rival MPs failed to elect a successor to President Michel Suleiman over their differences on a compromise candidate.

Media reports had said that the Vatican considers the presidential elections in Lebanon as a battle of existence that surpasses the Maronites and focuses on the active Christian role in state posts in the country and the Middle East.

Last week, al-Rahi headed a delegation from the patriarchs of the Orient to the Iraqi Kurdish region of Erbil.

Islamic State militants in Iraq have been waging a campaign against minorities in Iraq, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

Pope Francis called last week for collective action through the United Nations to "stop unjust aggression" in Iraq.

Al-Joumhouria reported that al-Rahi will head to Australia after the Vatican on a pastoral visit.

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