Pope Francis Urged Lebanese Politicians To Put Aside Personal Interests

Vatican.va

On Sunday, Pope Francis concluded his historic visit to Bahrain. During his trip, the pontiff urged Lebanese politicians to put aside personal interests and come to a unified agreement to fill the power vacuum in crisis-hit Lebanon.

The pontiff stated that Lebanon is not a country but a message with great meaning.

“I take this opportunity to appeal to Lebanese politicians: Leave aside self-interest, look at the country, and agree. First God, and after that, the country, then interests. God and the country,” Pope Francis urged on the flight back from Bahrain.

“Right now, I don’t want to say, ‘Save Lebanon,’ because we are not saviors, but please, you have to support Lebanon,” he added.

The country is drowning in a deep political and economic crisis, as it is now without a president after Michel Aoun‘s mandate expired last Monday without a successor.

Worth noting that Prime Minister Najib Mikati had earlier appealed to the Vatican to help push for consensus among Lebanon’s politicians in the presidential election.