riyadh lebanon christian maronite patriarch visit saudi arabia historic visit ultra-conservative muslim kingdom express support tuesday reason behind lebanese prime minister saad al-hariri resignation hariri saudi ally resign abruptly nov. move lebanese political leaders ascribe pressure riyadh hariri say resignation prompt assassination plot accuse iran hezbollah sow strife region deny constraints movement patriarch bechara al-rai meet hariri well king salman crown prince mohammed bin salman part trip plan well lebanese political crisis bring hariri resignation hariri return fast possible support reason resignation rai quote say saudi-owned al arabiya television hariri say fine would return lebanon next two days twitter urge lebanese remain calm say family would stay saudi arabia call country events thrust lebanon back forefront conflict sunni saudi arabia shi ite iran rai trip come heighten scrutiny light hariri resignation official visit saudi arabia senior non-muslim cleric significant rare act religious openness conservative muslim country kingdom host holy sit islam ban practice religions force christians risk arrest pray private home prince mohammed say want saudi arabia open world addition impose radical economic reform 32-year-old heir-apparent pledge relax strict social norms revive middle-of-the-road moderate islam open world religions traditions people rai head maronite church presence lebanon syria cyprus follow eastern rite roman catholic church flank catholic clerics wear vestments gold cross rai discuss religious tolerance combat extremism king son saudi state news agency say prince mohammed take hard line iran since take wide-ranging authorities two years ago include defense minister kingdom wag two-year-old war yemen houthi fighters align iran also push social freedoms country authority rest decades endure accommodation royal family clerics control hardline wahhabi strain islam originate saudi arabia power saudi religious police curb enforcement gender segregation relax women grant freedoms include right drive cars start next year rai second christian patriarch visit country another trip 1975. say original invitation extend 2013 late king abdullah lebanese patriarch saudi say support reason hariri quit