This morning, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of the Republic of Lebanon, His Excellency Mr. Michel Aoun, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial discussions in the Secretariat of State, the importance of the good diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Lebanon, which reach their seventy-fifth anniversary this year, was highlighted. Attention then turned to the grave socio-economic problems the country is experiencing, and the situation of refugees, in the hope that the aid of the international community, the upcoming legislative elections and the necessary reforms may contribute to strengthening peaceful co-existence between the various religious confessions that live in the Land of the Cedars.

Finally, the disastrous consequences of the explosion at the Port of Beirut on 4 August 2020 were mentioned, with reference to the demand for justice and truth expressed by the families of the victims.

From the Vatican, 21 March 2022