No plan to postpone papal trip to Lebanon
August 20, 2012
The Vatican has no plans to postpone a scheduled September visit to Lebanon by Pope Benedict XVI, despite security concerns in the region.
Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, told reporters on August 20 that plans for the papal trip are moving forward on schedule, "without any uncertainty on the part of the Vatican." Pope Benedict is due to arrive in Beirut on September 14, staying in Lebanon until September 16.
Father Lombardi was responding to reports issuing from Lebanon last week, which had suggested that the Pope's trip might be endangered because of fears that violence in Syria could spill over the border into Lebanon.
To reassure Lebanese Catholics, Father Lombardi revealed that the "popemobile" has already been shipped to Beirut to be ready for the Pope's arrival there.
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Further information:
- Pope to visit Lebanon despite tensions: spokesman (Daily Star)
- Violence in Syria raising concerns about papal trip to Lebanon (CWN, 8/13)
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