Message of Support from Vatican to Bkirki
Bkirki has received a message of support from the Vatican, An Nahar daily reported Thursday, a day after the new papal nuncio attended part of the Maronite bishops” meeting.
An Nahar said the message "included support for Patriarch Sfeir”s stances."
However, As Safir newspaper said the papal ambassador”s participation in the bishops” weekly meeting on Wednesday was aimed at "refuting media reports about differences of opinion in the Council of Maronite Bishops and between Sfeir and the Vatican."
Ad-Diyar, in its turn, quoted church sources as slamming Free Patriotic Movement leader Gen. Michel Aoun, who on Wednesday accused Sfeir of covering up for corrupt politicians in the country.
"If the General is saying that Patriarch Sfeir is protecting the corrupt, then let him tell us who are the corrupt?" the sources asked.
They said that the FPM is posting news on its official website saying the Maronite community in Lebanon is annoyed from the patriarch. The sources added that Aoun”s supporters were more irritated by the fact that Sfeir traveled to the Vatican and returned with "good news."