Minister: Pope postpones visit to Lebanon for health reasons

BEIRUT (AP) — A Lebanese Cabinet minister says Pope Francis has postponed a planned visit to Lebanon next month due to health reasons. Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar did not specify Pope Francis’ ailment. But the pope is known to be suffering acute knee pain that has greatly curtailed his mobility in recent months. Nassar told the official National News Agency that Lebanon received a letter from the Vatican officially informing Lebanon of the postponement. It added that a new date for the visit will be announced “as soon as it is determined.”