Pope Francis is planing to kick off a tour to the Middle East that would include Lebanon, to express the Vatican’s solidarity with the people of the region, who are confronting tremendous challenges.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Tuesday, the pontiff’s visit to Lebanon is on his 2014 schedule, where he is set to express the Catholic’s church concern over the fate of the Christians in the Middle East.

The daily said that the pope’s visit is to urge Christians to hold onto their land and to send a message to the World that “it’s time to reach viable solutions to fortify peace in the region.” [Link]