Amid the accelerated governmental developments in Lebanon, it seems to be more than mere coincidence that a Vatican official has visited Beirut. Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the head of the curial congregation in Rome that handles matters regarding Eastern Catholic Churches, visited Lebanon Jan. 10-13.

It seems that Sandri is the man who is still in charge of the Lebanon file at the Holy See, despite all of the changes that took place within the church curiae following the election of Pope Francis. He is a man who knows Lebanon very well, in terms of the country's churches, the state and the ongoing crisis. More importantly, he is the man who arranged the transfer of power within the largest Lebanese church — the Maronite Church — less than two years ago. He most likely persuaded former Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir to resign, and then oversaw the election process within the Maronite Synod of Bishops that led to his friend, Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, coming to the head of the patriarchate in March 2011.

This is where the importance of Sandri's visit to Lebanon — at this particular time — emerges. Sources close to the Maronite Patriarchate revealed to Al-Monitor that Sandri's arrival to Beirut comes in the context of a comprehensive church plan to follow up on the presidential elections in Lebanon. According to these sources, this plan was put in place in Rome on the sidelines of Rai's latest Vatican visit at the end of November 2013. Patriarch Rai does not conceal his personal interest — like that of the Vatican — in the upcoming presidential elections. These elections are meant to produce a new president to succeed current President Michel Suleiman, whose term ends at midnight on May 24.

During a meeting a few days ago with a small group of visitors, including Al-Monitor's correspondent, Rai said, "Yes, we [the Maronite Church] are interested in and concerned with the presidential elections. Moreover, we believe that these elections not being held would be a disaster for all Christians and all Lebanese, and even for the surrounding region." Rai revealed that prior to his latest visit to Rome, he agreed with Suleiman to work together to ensure the elections take place. "I agreed with the president on three bases in this regard: There would be no extension on the mandate of the current president, no constitutional amendment of any kind and we would not accept any vacuum in the presidency," Rai added.