Hariri Will Visit the Vatican

Prime Minister Saad Hariri is expected to visit the Vatican during the first half of October where he will meet with Pope Francis, al-Joumhouria daily said on Wednesday.

“The visit is of great importance at this stage, especially that it is the first visit by a Muslim Arab official to the Holy See, at a time when the world is experiencing tensions in the face of growing extremist currents," a source told the daily on condition of anonymity.

The source added that through this visit, the Prime Minister would be “dedicating that he represents moderation which should prevail on the surface of the earth, as he rejects all extremist frameworks and groups to any party they belong."

Issues of concern for Lebanon will top the talks, said the source and “Lebanon will be a major item on Hariri's agenda, where he will focus on presenting the Lebanese image, which reflects the model of dialogue, convergence and coexistence.”

The papal ambassador, Monsignor Gabriel Caccia, had visited both President Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in September, after the end of his duties in Lebanon.