Maronite Catholic Church

Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite patriarch, arrives to celebrate a Mass to mark the one-year anniversary of Beirut's port blast Aug. 4, 2021. The blast killed killed over 200 people, injured 7,000, left 300,000 homeless. (CNS/Reuters/Mohamed Azakir)

Lebanon's top Catholic leader: Pope's visit will keep country's 'hope alive'

Cardinal Bechara Rai, the Maronite Catholic patriarch, says a much anticipated visit from Pope Francis will help keep "hope alive" after years of political and economic upheaval have brought Lebanon to the brink of collapse. 

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