Lebanese President Joseph Aoun receiving the Vatican ambassador, Monsignor Paolo Borgia, on March 17, 2026, at the Baabda Presidential Palace. (Credit: National News Agency)
President Joseph Aoun on Tuesday received the Vatican ambassador, Archbishop Paolo Borgia, who informed him of the results of his two tours through several villages in southern Lebanon, particularly those with Christian majorities, some of whose residents have stayed despite evacuation orders from the Israeli army.
The ambassador affirmed that Pope Leo XIV is closely following the situation in Lebanon and the displaced people, and intends "to provide them with concrete assistance." "His Holiness prays unceasingly for an end to the suffering of the Lebanese people and the cessation of fighting," the apostolic nuncio said.
Aoun thanked the pope "for his support of Lebanon and its people," highlighting his "tireless work to end the ordeal that Lebanon is currently going through." The head of state recalled that the direct negotiation initiative with Israel that he launched aimed to stop the escalation and hostilities, extend the authority of the state over all its territory and limit the number of weapons held by the Lebanese Army.
The president also received a delegation of residents from the border village of Alma al-Shaab (Sour district), who were evacuated last week due to threats from the Israeli army.
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