Pope Francis prays for Lebanon during Sunday mass

Today, Pope Francis prayed for the Middle East in a mass which was attended by 6,000 people.

Sources

say that the papal mass was dedicated to the poor and the needy, since today is the first ever World Day of the Poor. According to

sources

, he also prayed for Lebanon.

In particular, my thoughts go to the dear Lebanese people, and I pray for the security of this country so it can continue its message, and be a message of respect and coexistence for all countries of the region and the world.

During the

visit of the Prime Minister Saad Hariri to the Vatican

, Pope Francis mentioned that Lebanon is an excellent example of coexistence in the Middle East since it is the home of two religions. The meeting between the Pope and Hariri focused on the importance of interreligious and intercultural dialogues that foster tolerance between people and nations.