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Lebanon's presidency says Pope Francis will visit the country in June
The Gulfnews reported, citing the AFP, Lebanon's presidency said on Tuesday (5 Apr) that Pope Francis is set to visit Lebanon in June, in a long-awaited trip that comes amid spiralling financial and political crises.
Lebanon, which is home to one of the largest Christian communities in the Middle East, has been gripped by an unprecedented economic downturn since 2019, with more than 80 per cent of the population now living in poverty.
The report noted that Pope Francis, who has received Lebanon's president and prime minister in the Vatican in recent months, had previously promised to visit the country and repeatedly expressed concern over its worsening crises.
A presidency statement said: "Apostolic Envoy Joseph Spiteri informed President Michel Aoun that Pope Francis will visit Lebanon next June."
The statement said: "The Lebanese people have been waiting for this visit for some time to express gratitude to his holiness for his support."
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It added that the exact date and agenda for the visit would be set later.
Source: gulfnews
