Lebanese Christian leaders focus on need for president
The visit of the Vatican's envoy to Lebanon coincided with a meeting between the country's top Christian leaders, Gen. Michel Aoun and Samir Geagea, who revealed a joint statement that could pave the way for a president to finally be elected.
BEIRUT — Christian political and religious leaders in Beirut intensified efforts to address the conditions of Christians in the region and to find a solution to the stalemate in Lebanon, where the presidential vacuum has continued since May 25, 2014. Vatican envoy Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, leading a delegation from the Holy See, arrived in Beirut May 29.
A Lebanese official who met with Mamberti spoke about the visit to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. He said that the cardinal is no stranger to Lebanon and its issues. He served as the Vatican's secretary for relations with states, the equivalent of foreign minister, from 2006 to 2014, a time of crisis for Lebanon. He is currently the prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
The Lebanese official added that Mamberti seemed to be well aware of the details and complexities of the issue during his visit. Most importantly, the Vatican official revealed to his hosts — Prime Minister Tamam Salam, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, former President Michel Suleiman and other ministers and party leaders — that he did not bring an initiative nor ideas regarding the presidential crisis or the Christian situation in the region following displacement by the Syrian civil war and the emergence of the Islamic State.
Mamberti explained to every person he has met with that his mission is to collect information and views from the political parties, particularly the Christian ones. Most notable among his questions, which focused on the fate of Christians in Syria, were: How are the situations in Lebanon and Syria assessed? What are the main risks facing the Christians in Lebanon and its surroundings? The Vatican envoy posed questions about the various parties, groups and environments supporting and funding terrorism. He asked about Syria and solicited the opinions of the Lebanese on the fate of the Syrian conflict, more than four years after its outbreak, and on where the conflict could lead.
