The Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States said Tuesday that Pope Francis would like to visit Lebanon "soon" amid the country's crippling economic crisis.
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher spoke after a meeting with President Michel Aoun who thanked the Vatican for supporting Lebanon.
"The holy father wishes me to express his closeness and concern for Lebanon and for its people at this time of grave social, economic and political crisis," Gallagher said.
He added that the pope told him before leaving for Beirut that "he would like to come to Lebanon very soon".
Lebanon, a Mediterranean nation of 6 million, has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East and is the only Arab country with a Christian head of state.
Christians make up a third of the population, and the Vatican fears the country's collapse is particularly dangerous for the continued presence of its Christian community, a bulwark for the church in the Mideast.
AP
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