Pope Francis has reiterated his plan to visit Lebanon once conditions allow…

This was communicated in an April 22 statement by Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, about this morning’s private audience with Lebanese Prime Minister designate, Saad Hariri.

Responding to journalists’ questions, Bruni confirmed the Holy Father’s meeting.

“In the course of the conversation, which lasted some thirty minutes,” he added, “the Pope wished to confirm his closeness to the Lebanese people, who are living in a time of great difficulty and uncertainty, and reminded of the responsibility of all political forces to commit themselves urgently to the benefit of the nation.”

“In reaffirming his desire to visit the country, as soon as the conditions allow,” the Vatican spokesman said, “Pope Francis hopes that, with the help of the International Community, Lebanon will return to incarnate “the strength of cedars, the diversity that from weakness becomes strength in a great reconciled people,” with their vocation to be land of encounter, coexistence and pluralism.”