In Vatican, Al-Rahi Calls for Prayer for Lebanon, Mideast Peace

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi arrived Tuesday at the Vatican for a one-week visit, after wrapping up his pastoral trip to the United Stated.

Upon his arrival, al-Rahi called at the St. Maroun Church for “a profound prayer for the sake of Lebanon and peace in the Middle East.”

The patriarch started his official talks in the Vatican with meeting Dominique Mamberti, Vatican secretary for external relations. He then met with Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples with the Roman Curia.

Al-Rahi also telephoned the Saudi embassy in Rome to offer his condolences over the death of crown prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.

Later on Tuesday, the patriarch met with a number of priests, monks and nuns, and a number of Lebanese expats.

He was visited by Lebanon’s Sports and Youth Minister Faisal Karami and a Lebanese delegation taking part at a conference for youths and sports in Rome, as well as by Lebanese ambassador Gilbert Shaghouri.

In the evening, al-Rahi held talks with Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in the Roman Curia.