Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Beshara Boutros Rahi on Monday returned to Lebanon concluding a 24-day pastoral tour in Rome and the USA.

Upon his arrival in Bkerki, Rahi told reporters that in Rome, he discussed the tribulations of the East with Pope Francis, whom he urged to raise the voice in order to end war and destruction.

"I talked to him about Lebanon that has cordially received Palestinian and Syrian refugees (...) I said to him that Lebanon cannot carry on its message if it remains engulfed with guests," Rahi said.

He also explained that his foreign tours aimed to strengthen solidarity and connection between Lebanon and the Lebanese Diaspora

Source: NNA