The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met with His Beatitude Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, Patriarch of Antioch for Maronites, at Palazzo Chigi today.
The meeting, which was also attended by Undersecretary of State Alfredo Mantovano and representatives from the ‘Aiuto alla Chiesa che Soffre’ foundation, focused on the current crisis in the Middle East and the latest developments in the region, with particular reference to the situation in Lebanon. President Meloni underlined that Lebanon represents a unique model of peaceful coexistence and mutual enrichment among different religious faiths.
The President of the Council of Ministers also pointed out the Italian Government’s work to protect religious freedom, interfaith dialogue and the rights of minorities.
In particular, President Meloni reiterated that the presence of Christian communities in the Middle East is a wealth to be safeguarded and protected, and called for a renewed commitment by the international community in this direction.
Lastly, the President of the Council of Ministers and the Patriarch addressed the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. In this regard, President Meloni recalled the tremendous efforts by the authorities and people of Lebanon to support the extraordinary number of refugees and displaced persons who have flocked to the Land of the Cedars over the last years, and Italy’s attention to the needs of the Lebanese people.