Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi revealed Pope Francis' concerns about the Christian presence in Lebanon.

Speaking to "Voice of Lebanon" radio station on his return from Rome to Beirut, he said: "I reassured His Holiness during our last meeting that Lebanon will not lose its Christian identity, as Christian-Muslim coexistence is constitutionally enshrined, and today, migration is impacting both Muslims and Christians alike."

Patriarch Al-Rahi noted that he handed Pope Francis three documents: one political, discussing Lebanon's internal situation, particularly the presidential vacuum; the second social, focusing on displacement due to ongoing conflict; and the third, a statement from the Christian-Islamic spiritual summit.

Al-Rahi affirmed that the Vatican acts as a moral force, urging foreign nations to support Lebanon’s presidential elections without intervening in candidate selection.

He noted that the Pope has questioned why a president has not yet been elected.

Al-Rahi continued: "We hold House Speaker Nabih Berri responsible for the failure to elect a president, as he keeps the key to Parliament in his pocket, a privilege he does not possess; he should open the doors of Parliament.'"

The Patriarch added, “Calls for an agreement on a specific presidential candidate are constitutionally inappropriate, as every Maronite has the right to be considered for the presidency—and they are well aware of this.”

He warned that the current situation in Lebanon could delay the election further, expressing regret that the presidential deadline slips by daily, while it is tied to ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza.

"Meanwhile, the country is suffering and urgently needs a president who commands the trust of both the Lebanese people and the international community and who understands security and economic issues," he said.

He concluded by renewing his call for neutrality, which aligns with Lebanon's system, stressing that straying from neutrality has drawn Lebanon into a war that neither the Lebanese government nor its people desire.