NNA - Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon, Mgr. Joseph Spiteri, on Thursday paid the Maronite League a farewell visit upon the end of his mission in the country.

In his word, Spiteri highlighted the Holy See's interest in Lebanon and keenness on the country’s safety and prosperity.

"The Vatican still counts on Lebanon's pluralist message, and I am upbeat that the Lebanese will be able to reach a new formula that saves their distinguished pluralist system," said the prelate.

On the internal situation in Lebanon, Spiteri said that "nothing prevents the state that successfully completed the parliamentary polls from conducting the presidential elections according to the constitutional principles."

Commenting on the Syrian refugees file, he said that "the West and the UN have shown understanding of Lebanon's insistence on the repatriation of the displaced Syrians to the safe regions in their country." "The Lebanese officials should not cease reminding this predicament," he advised.

Moreover, Spiteri said that the Pope's visit to Lebanon is still on the table. "This visit in on the Pope's agenda, and he will announce its date when the Vatican departments see that the visit is beneficial for Lebanon," he explained.

He continued that the Holy See is in constant touch with all the states concerned with the Lebanese crisis.

On Lebanon's neutrality, he said: "Active neutrality proposed by Patriarch Beshara Rahi is being discussed with the concerned states; the term may change but the result is the same."

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