President Joseph Aoun received a letter from Pope Francis, delivered by Apostolic Nuncio Paolo Borgia, in which he asked God to preserve Lebanon as "a treasure of civilization and spiritual life."

Receiving Archbishop Borgia at Baabda Palace, President Aoun expressed his delight at a possible upcoming meeting with the pontiff.

"I know that Lebanon is always in Pope Francis's heart and prayers," he said.

The Vatican ambassador conveyed a message from Pope Francis in which he expressed his "spiritual closeness to the dear Lebanese people."

"I ask God to preserve it as a treasure of civilization and spiritual life, so that it may always be a message of peace and harmony with diversity," he added.