Al-Rahi Returns from Rome: Broad Christian Meeting in Bkirki on June 2

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Thursday returned to Beirut from the Vatican after participating in meetings on the apostolic exhortation for the Middle East.

Al-Rahi reiterated his call for accelerating the cabinet formation process to enable the country of confronting its numerous social and economic crises.

“It’s important to work together to protect our national unity and we regret the fact that a new cabinet has not been formed yet. Any political action that cripples the country is a subversive action,” al-Rahi said.

Asked whether he would meet with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, who is due to arrive in Beirut Thursday evening, the patriarch said he was not contacted concerning such a meeting.

Al-Rahi said he welcomes any visit by any foreign official, but stressed that the Lebanese should depend on themselves.

On a separate note, the patriarch announced that the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki will witness a broad Christian summit on June 2.