altBEIRUT: A religious summit between Catholic and Orthodox patriarchs of the Middle East will take place in the next few months, Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai announced Wednesday.

Speaking to the Fides Agency in Rome, Rai said that preparations were under way to hold an “important summit” that would address the challenges facing Christians in the Middle East.

“We are preparing a meeting of all Orthodox and Catholic Patriarchs of the Middle East, to promote unity among Christians and deal with the problems and sufferings that we share in this difficult moment in history,” Rai said.

The cardinal arrived in Rome earlier this week to attend the religious conclave at the Vatican to elect a new pope to replace Pope Benedict XVI.

By: The Daily Star