Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun has expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his continuous efforts to support Lebanon in its quest to end occupation and Israeli aggression on its territory. President Aoun urged the Pope to continue backing Lebanon’s demands, especially the enforcement of the framework resolution, the immediate cessation of Israeli attacks on southern villages and infrastructure, and the withdrawal from occupied areas.
President Aoun's statement came during a meeting this morning with the Pope and later with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Vatican Foreign Minister Monsignor Richard Gallagher, marking the start of his visit to the Vatican.
The President arrived at St. Damaso Courtyard in the Vatican at 9:30, where he was greeted by Vatican Chief of Protocol Monsignor Javier Fernandez Gonzalez. He was escorted by the Swiss Guard to the Pope's office, where he held a private 30-minute meeting with the Pope, followed by discussions with the Vatican's Secretary of State and Foreign Minister on the latest developments in Lebanon and the ongoing Israeli assaults.
During the meetings, President Aoun thanked the Vatican for its continued support since the Pope's last visit to Lebanon. He outlined the political, economic, and social developments in Lebanon in recent times.
He urged the Pope and Vatican officials to persist in their diplomatic efforts at international forums to realize Lebanon's demands, with a focus on the enforcement of the framework agreement signed under U.S. auspices on June 26, and an end to daily aggression targeting civilians and infrastructure in the South.
Furthermore, President Aoun called upon the Holy Father and the Holy See to support Lebanon in achieving full Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese lands, paving the way for reconstruction and the return of displaced individuals to their homes and villages.
President Aoun stressed that these actions must coincide with the assertion of Lebanese state authority over all its territories, ensuring that decisions on war and peace remain under its control, as the only path to achieving security and stability on the borders.
As a token of appreciation, President Aoun presented the Pope with a bust of Blessed Patriarch Elias Hoyek, containing the relics of the Blessed.