Pope Francis on Thursday
had a private audience with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and
his wife Nadia Al Chami inside the Vatican that lasted 18
minutes.
The pope appeared in a cheerful mood as he greeted Aoun in
French.
The pontiff thanked Aoun for Lebanon's reception of refugees
from war-torn Syria.
The Holy See said in a statement that the meeting was
"cordial".
"The Parties focused on the good bilateral relations between
the Holy See and Lebanon, underlining the historic and
institutional role of the Church in the life of the country,"
the statement read.
"Satisfaction was then expressed for the efforts on the part
of all the various political parties in putting an end to the
presidential vacancy, emphasising the hope for an increasingly
fruitful future collaboration between the members of diverse
ethnic and religious communities in favour of the common good
and the development of the nation.
"The discussion then turned to Syria, with special attention
to international efforts to find a political solution to the
conflict.
"Furthermore, appreciation was expressed at the welcome that
Lebanon has extended to many Syrian refugees.
"Finally, there was a broader exchange of views on the
regional context, referring also to other ongoing conflicts and
the situation of Christians in the Middle East".
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