Vatican Secretary of State emphasizes urgency of electing new president in Lebanon

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, emphasized the critical importance of electing a new president for Lebanon, expressing hope that the Christian community will play an active role in this process.

During a ceremony for the Literary Prize awarded to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, the Vatican's second-in-command highlighted the necessity of continued diplomatic efforts to achieve peace. He reminded attendees that "responsibility lies with everyone."

Fresh from a visit to Lebanon, Cardinal Parolin stressed that the primary solution to Lebanon's current situation lies in "the election of a president of the Republic to end the institutional crisis that is affecting the entire country." He noted that while the solution would not be a quick fix, Lebanon cannot tackle its problems with vacant leadership positions.

Cardinal Parolin acknowledged the active role of Maronite Patriarch Béchara Raï in his efforts to unite Christians. He observed that there seems to be a willingness among Christian parties to unite their efforts and propose one or more consensus candidates.

When asked about Hezbollah's stance, Cardinal Parolin remarked that "the solution involves a candidate who has the approval of all Lebanese parties," highlighting the need for broad support to resolve the political deadlock.