Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday expressed relief over three developments that took place over the past days – the announcement that Pope Francis will visit Lebanon in June, Lebanon’s tentative deal with the International Monetary Fund, and the return of the Saudi and Kuwaiti ambassadors to Beirut.

“These positive steps coincide with important regional and international developments and we hope the Lebanese state will capitalize on them and employ them exclusively within the national framework,” al-Rahi said in his Palm Sunday sermon.

He added that the pope’s visit to Lebanon is part of the Vatican’s efforts in “helping Lebanon exit from its deep crisis and keeping it among the group of democratic nations.”

Source: Naharnet.com