Patriarch Rai hands over Pope Francis report on Christians in Middle East

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai handed over on Wednesday Pope Francis a report on the situation of Christians in the Middle East.

Patriarch Rai said that Christians in the Middle East have a significant role in guaranteeing the "Islamic moderation."

On Syria, Patriarch Rai that the danger resides in providing the hard-line Islamic groups with weapons.

Patriarch Rai briefed the Pope over the situation in the Middle East and the status of the Christian community.

He also tackled with him his pastoral visit to Latin America and the needs of the Maronite Church.

The Patriarch asked for the Pope's blessings and asked him to pray for Lebanon and the Middle East.

After the meeting, Patriarch Rai participated in the Conference of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, Refugees and displaced persons in which he talked about the situation of the Middle East, as well as the conditions of the Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Earlier in the day, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai participated in the daily mass of his holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican.