Cardinal Parolin begins five-day visit to Lebanon
The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is embarking on a five-day trip to Lebanon, where he will visit the humanitarian structures of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Deborah Castellano Lubov
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin began his five-day visit to the Middle Eastern country of Lebanon, as announced in advance by the Vatican Secretariat of State . Terza Loggian account on the social platform “X”, where he will meet authorities, representatives of the Church and visit humanitarian structures of the Order of Malta.
The visit began today, June 23, with meetings with the authorities, the Maronite Patriarchate, the local Church, patriarchs and religious leaders.
Tomorrow, June 24, the Vatican Secretary of State will celebrate Mass on the solemnity of Saint John the Baptist, patron of the Order of Malta, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Order to Lebanon, HE Maria Emerica Cortese, and state representatives.
Cardinal Parolin will leave Lebanon on June 27 after visiting some humanitarian centers managed by the Lebanese Association of the Order and participating in some charitable activities.
Lebanese flag
Looking for an institutional solution to the crisis
“For some time,” Cardinal Parolin said recently on the sidelines of an event at the Italian Senate, “I have been invited by the local Order of Malta to visit their works,” which, he noted, “have a great social impact in a situation of total crisis.
“The Lebanese crisis,” he recognized, “is an all-out crisis” and, “here too, we will certainly try to work a little, as the diplomacy of the Holy See has always done, to contribute to find an institutional solution.
The Order of Malta on the front line
For over 70 years, the Order of Malta has been on the front lines, providing basic healthcare and social support services to the population,” read a statement from the Order.
Since 2020, the Order has focused its commitment on “agro-humanitarian” projects to guarantee food security, promote economic recovery and support the most vulnerable segments of the Lebanese population.
The Order of Malta operates six Agro-Humanitarian Centers and the current agricultural land coverage covers 69.26% of the Lebanese territory (approximately 158 square kilometers), with the aim of reaching 75% by the end of this year .
In a country where 80% of the population lives in poverty and growing insecurity, particularly with the outbreak of war in the Holy Land, this is a way of responding to the serious economic crisis.
Benedetta Capelli contributed to this article
