Al-Rahi Heads to Vatican on Friday to Attend Pope John Paul II’s Beatification

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi is scheduled to travel to Rome on Friday to attend the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II, which will be held on Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

The patriarch is set to hold talks with a number of Italian officials on his visit including President Giorgio Napolitano and Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.

This will be al-Rahi’s second visit to Rome since assuming his role as patriarch.

He first visited the Italian capital to attend the unveiling of a statue of St. Maroun located at the square of St. Peter’s Basilica.