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Lebanese cardinal criticized over Jerusalem visit

By Bassem Mroue
Published May 9, 2014 7:40pm ET
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Lebanese cardinal criticized over Jerusalem visit
FILE - This Tuesday, March 15, 2011 file photo shows the newly elected Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai shortly after his election at the church's seat in Bkirki, northeast of Beirut, Lebanon. A planned visit by the leader of Lebanon's largest church to Jerusalem later this month has led to a controversy in this tiny Arab country that Israel invaded in the past and occupied parts of it for more than a decade. Rai, head of the Maronite Catholic church throughout the region, will be the first leader of the Middle Eastern church to visit the Holy Land since Israel was created in 1948. Rai says he is going to welcome Pope Francis who is scheduled to visit Jordan, the West Bank and Israel from May 24 to 26, 2014. Lebanon bans its citizens from visiting Israel or having contact with Israelis. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File) | Bilal Hussein

BEIRUT (AP) — A visit planned by the leader of Lebanon’s largest Christian sect to Jerusalem to meet Pope Francis has unleashed a barrage of criticism in the Arab country, which remains at war with Israel.

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