Dubai: Saudi Arabia invited Lebanon’s Catholic patriarch to visit the country and meet King Salman.
Maronite Patriarch Beshara Al Rai is one of the most prominent Christian figures in the Middle East.
Waleed Al Bukhari, the Saudi charge d’affaire in Lebanon, handed the invite and said the “historic” visit would take place in the coming weeks, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.
The invitation comes amid a drive to modernise Saudi Arabia’s traditionally conservative society that’s being led by Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, who vowed last month to eradicate extremism and return the kingdom to what he said was “moderate” Islam.
The prince is also the architect of a plan aimed at weaning the country off its reliance on oil.
While Lebanese Christian politicians often meet Saudi rulers in Riyadh, Al Rai would be the first church leader to visit the kingdom, where crosses and religious signs are banned.
