Mikati discusses presidential juncture with Pope at Vatican
The Vatican urged Lebanon on Friday to elect a president, after two years of vacuum amid deadlock between pro- and anti-Hezbollah blocs in parliament.
Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, who met Friday with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, said the Vatican has been calling for the election of a president for two years.
Parolin hoped for a president to be elected on January 9 when Lebanon's parliament will convene to elect a president in a session with consecutive rounds of voting. "We hope that a president will be elected and that he would be capable of bringing the Lebanese together under the constitution," Parolin said.
Earlier on Friday, Mikati had met with Pope Francis as he visited the Vatican. Mikati said in a statement that he discussed with the Pope the presidential vacuum and the role of the Christian leaders. "The presidency does not only concern (Lebanon's) Christians, but is a national juncture," the PM said.
Mikati also urged Francis to pressure Israel to release Lebanese prisoners held in Israeli jails and to accelerate the withdrawal of Israeli troops from south Lebanon.
Source: Naharnet
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