Report: Rahi might meet Macron soon, after sensing French rapprochement

France has decided to go back to consulting Bkerki regarding the presidential file, a church source told MTV.

According to the source, this is what Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has sensed after he met with French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo.

MTV also said Thursday that al-Rahi might visit Paris soon to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron over the presidential file.

Grillo had reportedly tried to mend ties with Bkerki by telling al-Rahi that her country is “keen on the centuries-long, historic relation between Paris and the patriarchate.”

The ambassador also told the patriarch that Paris no longer backs any presidential candidate and that it “will not take any step that harms the Christian and national interest,” effectively announcing the end of French support for Suleiman Franjieh’s nomination, the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper said.