NNA - President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, and First Lady, Neamat Aoun, on Thursday arrived at Rome’s Ciampino military airbase at 2:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. Beirut time), beginning an official and family visit to the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to receive President Aoun in a private audience at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (11:00 a.m. Beirut time), after which the First Lady and family members will join for the papal blessing. President Aoun will also meet Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Aoun was welcomed by Vatican and Lebanese diplomats and clergy before heading to his residence.

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