BEIRUT: Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai will visit Rome in March to participate in the conclave of cardinals that will elect a new pope after this week’s resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the Central News Agency reported Thursday.

The spokesperson of the Maronite patriarch, Walid Ghayad, told the CNA, “ he will travel to Rome to participate in the conclave of cardinals to elect a new pope after Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation.”

Ghayad added, “As a cardinal, the patriarch will definitely participate in the conclave of cardinals to elect the new pope.”

The patriarch will remain in Rome during the month of March and will then travel to France.

“The patriarch will tour Maronite congregations in several countries in Latin America including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay [after leaving France],” Ghayad added.