Pope Francis expressed readiness to visit Lebanon during a trip planned to the Holly Land, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Monday.

According to the daily, contacts are ongoing with the Vatican to convince the pontiff to make a brief visit to Beirut during his first trip to the Holy Land, visiting Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem in May.

Maronite sources recently voiced hope for a possible trip to Lebanon to preach reconciliation in the region.

On Sunday, Pope Francis told crowds gathered in St Peter's Square for the traditional Angelus prayer that he will carry out a “ pilgrimage to the Holy Land from May 24 to 26.”

Francis said the date of the announcement -- January 5 -- was significant because it "commemorates the historic meeting between pope Paul VI and patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople", 50 years ago. [Link]