Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Lebanon next month will go ahead as scheduled, the Vatican said on Monday, despite tensions in the country linked to the raging conflict in Syria.
"The preparations for the visit are going ahead without any uncertainty on the part of the Vatican," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters.
Lombardi cited as evidence the September 14-16 trip would go ahead the fact that the pope's special car -- the "popemobile" -- was on its way to Beirut.
Lebanon has been battling to contain an eruption of violence triggered by events in Syria, including a spate of mass kidnappings of Syrians over the abduction of a man called Hassan al-Meqdad by armed rebels in Syria.
Pope Benedict XVI is expected to bring a message of peace for the Middle East on his three-day trip.
The 85-year-old German pontiff is set to meet with various religious leaders in multi-faith Lebanon and emphasize in particular the need for peaceful coexistence between Christian and Muslim communities in the Middle East.
Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/50613 |