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Patriarch Rai received by Macron at the Elysée Palace

Patriarch Rai received by Macron at the Elysée Palace

Official welcome for Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai at the Elysee Palace, May 30, 2023. (Credit: Twitter/@Bkerki)

BEIRUT — The head of the Maronite Church, Bechara Rai, was received Tuesday afternoon at the Elysée Palace in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron, who had sent him an "official invitation" for a planned meeting, the Maronite patriarchy announced via Twitter.

The visit comes during Lebanon's continuous economic crisis and a presidential vacancy that has so far lasted seven months.

In a tweet, the Maronite Patriarchate said that Rai had been officially welcomed at the Elysée Palace.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported last week that Macron and Rai will discuss the presidential election, the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the economic crisis that  has plagued the country for over three years.

The day before his trip to Paris, Rai visited the Vatican, where he met with the Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. No details were released about their discussions.

Last Sunday, Cardinal Rai welcomed "the outline of an agreement between parliamentary groups on the personality of the next president, which would not represent a challenge for anyone, would meet Lebanon's current needs and inspire confidence both internally and externally."

BEIRUT — The head of the Maronite Church, Bechara Rai, was received Tuesday afternoon at the Elysée Palace in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron, who had sent him an "official invitation" for a planned meeting, the Maronite patriarchy announced via Twitter.The visit comes during Lebanon's continuous economic crisis and a presidential vacancy that has so far lasted seven months.In a...