Vatican secretary of state to attend 'spiritual and national meeting' in Bkerki

The Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, kicked off a visit to Lebanon on Sunday, amid escalation on Lebanon’s southern front with Israel.

Parolin is scheduled to take part in a “broad spiritual and national meeting” in Bkerki that has been called for by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi.

The meeting will be attended by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan, Higher Islamic Shiite Council deputy head Sheikh Ali al-Khatib, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Sami Abou al-Muna and Islamic Alawite Council chief Sheikh Ali Qaddour.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that the meeting has no specific agenda and that there is “a draft joint statement aimed at declaring a unified Lebanese stance over the domestic national issues and the regional issues, focusing on the Lebanese experience and on strengthening Islamic-Christian ties, which is a constant Vatican message.”

Kuwait’s al-Anbaa newspaper meanwhile reported that the main objective of Parolin’s visit is to “exert efforts and push with all decision-makers in the country for the election of a president.”