BEIRUT: Health Minister Wael Abu Faour expressed disappointment Wednesday over what he said was the "unfortunate" state of Lebanese civil society, highlighted by its lack of support for his food safety campaign. It is sad "that civil society has reached this state whereby it did not come out with a position on the food […]

  Prime Minister Tammam Salam said on Wednesday that France will sign over the weekend the final agreement to equip the Lebanese army with the weapons and ammunition it has ordered, as he lamented the “insufficient” international support for Lebanon. Salam spoke upon his arrival to Paris on a four-day official visit during which he […]

  TEL AVIV: Israel’s military said on Wednesday it was exploring the possibility of cooperating with the Lebanese army to counter jihadi militants, even though the two countries remain technically at war. But any coordination is almost certain to be rejected in Lebanon, where Israel is by and large considered an enemy among all religious […]

By Elise Harris Vatican City, Dec 9, 2014 / 01:08 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Rather than being called by his papal name “Benedict XVI,” the retired pontiff revealed that since his retirement he has wanted to return to his original priestly title and be called simply “Father Benedict.” Father Benedict made his comments in a private conversation with journalist Jorg Bremer, who published bits of them in a Dec. 7 article for German newspaper F.A.Z. According to the journalist, Benedict explained that when he initially stepped down he wanted to be called “Father Benedict” rather than Pope Emeritus or Benedict XVI, but “I was too weak at that point to enforce it.”

At least part of the reason for wanting his new title to simply be “Father” rather than Pope Emeritus or Benedict XVI is to put more space between him and the role of the pope, so that there is no confusion as to who the “true Pope” is, Bremer reported. The retired pontiff encouraged the journalist to write about his desire, saying “Yes, do that; that would help.” In their conversation Benedict also spoke of his current relationship with Pope Francis, saying that “we maintain good contact (with each other).” “Francis has a strong presence. Much stronger that I could ever have with my physical and mental weaknesses,” he observed. “To remain in my office would not have been honest.”

  BEIRUT: MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced Tuesday the formation of a Coordination Committee for Mayors to follow up on the budget money that municipalities have not received since 1994. After a meeting in the Free Patriotic Movement’s headquarters in Rabieh, Kanaan, who is also the head of the Parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance, announced […]

  BEIRUT: The European Union’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy arrived in Lebanon Tuesday for a two-day visit. Sources at Rafik Hariri International Airport told The Daily Star that Federica Mogherini, accompanied by an EU delegation, arrived in Lebanon at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, coming from Turkey aboard a private jet. (Link)

  The series of meetings held by the director of the department of the Middle East and North Africa at the French Foreign Ministry, Jean-François Girault, with Lebanese officials since his arrival indirectly backed the election of MP Robert Ghanem as Lebanon’s president, reported al-Akhbar daily. On Tuesday, Girault continued his meetings with Lebanese politicians. […]

  BEIRUT: France is ready to help Lebanese political parties agree on a president if it was asked to do so, a high-ranking French foreign policy official said Tuesday after meeting Prime Minister Tammam Salam in Beirut. “The Lebanese must make a final decision and choose a president for their state without foreign intervention,” Jean-François […]

  Lebanon needs more international help to fight jihadist forces that have launched a series of attacks against the army and kidnapped troops and policemen, Prime Minister Tammam Salam said in an interview with Agence France-Presse. Salam, speaking ahead of a visit to France this week, welcomed French arms deliveries due "in the coming weeks," […]

  BAALBEK, Lebanon: The Lebanese Army has imposed a siege on the outskirts of the northeastern town of Arsal, where militants are holding 25 servicemen hostage, by blocking most roads leading to the area, security and local sources said. Troops have also been pounding the outskirts with heavy artillery. The security measures comes three days […]