Vatican: Pope Francis calls for international solidarity with Lebanon
Pope Francis called for international solidarity with Lebanon and urged Lebanese officials to sincerely commit to the future of their country.
VINCENZO PINTO / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
At the end of his general audience on Wednesday, the sovereign pontiff returned to the situation in Lebanon at length, calling religious and political leaders to their responsibility and inviting the faithful to pray for the bruised country.
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With our correspondent in Rome
,
Éric Sénanque
"
Lebanon cannot be abandoned in its solitude
", it is by quoting the words of his predecessor John Paul II in 1989 that Pope Francis launched his call for solidarity with the country of the Cedars.
Alongside a Lebanese priest, flag in hand, the sovereign pontiff, who found the faithful this Wednesday after six months of audiences in front of a camera, urged Lebanese officials to sincerely commit to the future of their country.
“
I ask political and religious leaders to engage with sincerity and transparency in the work of rebuilding the country, leaving aside their interests and looking at the common good and the future of the nation.
"
►
To listen: How can Lebanon reform itself and get out of the crisis?
A universal day of prayer for Lebanon
François who also wanted to send a message of encouragement to the inhabitants of Beirut: "
Do not abandon your houses and your heritage, do not let down the dream of those who believed in the future of a beautiful and prosperous country. .
"
The Pope called on believers around the world to a universal day of prayer and fasting for Lebanon next Friday, a month after
the disaster in the port of Beirut
.
To make this proximity concrete, François also announced the sending in the coming days to Beirut of the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
►
To read: Lebanon, a country on its knees
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Vatican
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