Expert church circles revealed that the
closed-door scheduled between Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and
Pope Benedict XVI in Rome will represent a suitable opportunity to
discuss the former's resignation.
They told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that the resignation is expected to be finalized in early March.
They said that the resignation would likely
take effect after the March 5 celebratory mass honoring Sfeir for his
silver jubilee in assuming is position at patriarch.
Soon after the resignation, elections to appoint a successor would proceed, they predicted.