Pope John Paul II has ruled out a second visit to Lebanon as part of his upcoming tour in the region on a pilgrimage in the steps of the apostle Paul.
President Emile Lahoud was informed on Friday that Pope John Paul II would not visit Lebanon during his upcoming trip to Syria on May 5, said the Daily Star newspaper.
The pope last visited Lebanon in 1997.
“You have invited me to visit your country during my forthcoming pilgrimage to Syria, retracing the trip made by St. Paul. I should tell you that the schedule of my visit does not leave me any free time to make another stop in Lebanon. But I won’t stop praying for God’s blessings for you and the Lebanese people,” the pope’s reply said, cited by the paper – Albawaba.com
