“His Holiness, how are you?”
“Very good. It's nice to meet you.”
“It's a very special day for me.”
“Welcome.”
The new ambassador from Lebanon to the Holy See, Antonio Andary, greeted the pope with these words. The diplomat met on Friday with Pope Francis to present the Holy Father his credentials.
The new ambassador's previous mission was in Argentina, where he lived for five years with his family. For that reason, they all speak Spanish and were able to greet the pope in his own language.
“Also, five years in Argentina. She speaks better Spanish than me.”
“The youth learn quickly.”
Pope Francis gave the diplomat the three main documents from his papacy and later met with him in private. Lebanon is one of the countries that takes in the most refugees and plays a fundamental role in the stability of the Middle East. The new ambassador speaks Arabic, English, French and Spanish and is an expert in eastern Christianity.
