Lebanon Cardinal and Marionite Patriarch, Béchara Boutros Al Raï, is to demand that his country be “removed from regional conflicts” where he will meet with the Saudi King and Crown Prince. He is also due to meet with former Lebanon Prime Minister who resigned earlier this month.
Lebanese church officials condemned “ the continuation of wars in the countries of the Middle East, particularly in Syria, Iraq, Palestine and Yemen” describing the cardinal’s visit as an occasion to “demand” peace as well as "to support the independence, sovereignty and stability of Lebanon," in a statement released on 10 November.
Cardinal Al Raï had planned the two-day visit before Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation in Riyadh on 4 November, throwing Lebanon into crisis. During the resignation, Hariri accused Iran of meddling in his country.
In a television interview on Sunday, Hariri said he will return to Lebanon "within days" to resolve issues with the militant group Hezbollah, his rivals in the coalition government.
Cardinal Rai told reporters before departing to Saudi Arabia that the Lebanese people have been "unsettled" since Mr Hariri's resignation earlier this month, adding that he will raise the matter with the Saudi king and crown prince.
Amid "the state of deadlock" in Lebanon following the resignation of its prime minister, the Lebanese prelates said Hariri’s return is "necessary for the sake of dignity, sovereignty and stability."
They said they valued the wisdom of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, "who has called for prudence and internal unity, and is still engaged in extensive consultations on this issue."
Britain, France and the United States have all expressed strong support for Lebanon's stability and sovereignty. A White House statement on Saturday described Hariri as "a trusted partner of the United States in strengthening Lebanese institutions, fighting terrorism, and protecting refugees."
Today (13 January), French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: "we are preoccupied by the situation in Lebanon."
Cardinal Al Raï will also meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir designate of the Gulf kingdom during the trip.
Al Raï will be the first Cardinal to visit the kingdom, where crosses and religious signs are banned.
Saudi Arabia’s royal family and religious establishment follow an austere form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism yet the crown prince has said the return of “moderate Islam” is key to his plans to modernise.
"The visit", Bishop Camillo Ballin, Apostolic Vicar for Northern Arabia, said last week "may be the beginning of a new attitude of Saudi Arabia towards other religions".
PICTURE: Lebanon's late Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri ©PA
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