VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Lebanon next month will go ahead as scheduled, the Vatican said Monday, despite tensions in the country linked to the raging conflict in Syria. “The preparations for the visit are going ahead without any uncertainty on the part of the Vatican,” Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said. Lombardi cited as evidence that the Sept. 14-16 trip would go ahead the fact that the pope’s special car – the “popemobile” – was on its way to Beirut. [Link]