Lebanon PM hopes potential Pope Francis visit will jumpstart government formation

  • Date: 23-Apr-2021
  • Source: Arab News
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:Lebanon
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Lebanon PM hopes potential Pope Francis visit will jumpstart government formation

BEIRUT: Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri is hoping a potential visit from Pope Francis to his fractured country will help political forces put aside their differences and finally form a government. Hariri met with the pope in the Vatican on Thursday, along with other Italian leaders. "The Vatican knows very well who is and who is not obstructing the government formation process," said Hariri, who has been unable to form a government of non-partisan specialists in Lebanon since his appointment on Oct. 22. Pope Francis confirmed he would visit crisis-hit Lebanon but only after its fractious politicians can agree on a new government. Hariri has been in disagreement with President Michel Aoun and his political team, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), for months over naming Christian ministers. Aoun has insisted on having the blocking third in the government. It was a quick visit to Italy but Hariri was very busy. He also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states. While in Rome, Hariri held meetings with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Luigi Di Maio, the country's foreign minister. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: "The pope met alone