The Maronite Archbishop of Batroun in Lebanon, Monseigneur Mounir Khairallah, relayed Pope Francis’ message saying, “Elect a President for Lebanon,” in an indirect message to the Lebanese officials.

Monseigneur Khairallah pointed out that during the month-long Synod meetings, he observed that the Pope, along with his aides in the Vatican, views the peace process in the region as a whole, particularly in Lebanon, with “significant importance.”

This is not the first time the Pope has expressed the possibility of visiting Lebanon upon the election of a President. In August of the previous year, Lebanese journalist Emad Al-Atrash, from the “Sky News Arabia” channel, reported a statement attributed to Pope Francis regarding Lebanon. The Pope inquired, “How can I help you, how can I assist Lebanon? Tell me, for I am ready to help at any time and prepared to do anything for the sake of Lebanon.”

His voice trembled, and he continued with a deep sense of sorrow, “I am very saddened not to have been able to visit Lebanon before, and I fear I may not be able to visit this beloved country.”

He fell silent for a moment, and his eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope as he addressed the Lebanese people (only one Lebanese person was present among the attendees), firmly saying, “Elect a President, form a government, and after 24 hours, you will find me among you in Beirut.”