Vatican: Pope's Visit to Lebanon an 'Act of Great Courage, Hope'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Lebanon next week is "considered an act of great courage and hope worldwide" as a civil war rages in neighboring Syria, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Saturday.
Lebanon, which has a significant Catholic community, was selected for the September 14-16 trip "before the situation in Syria escalated into an overt and bloody conflict," Lombardi wrote in an editorial for the Vatican weekly Octava Dies.
He said the Arab Spring and the Syrian situation make the church's engagement with the region's Christian communities even "more urgent".
He added that problems identified at a special synod of bishops two years ago on the Middle East were now more acute, issues such as dialogue between Islam and Judaism, religious freedom and democracy.
Lebanon has been battling to contain an eruption of violence triggered by the events in Syria, including a spate of mass kidnappings that recalled the dark days of the country's own civil war.
Benedict is expected to bring a message of peace for the Middle East on his three-day trip.
The 85-year-old German pontiff is set to meet with various religious leaders in multi-faith Lebanon and emphasize in particular the need for peaceful coexistence between Christian and Muslim communities in the region.
08 September 2012, 21:39
30
A good starting point would be to chasten his Lebanese hosts and hostesses on the anachronism of the Taef Accord which enshrines a shrinking minority in power leaving the majority, mostly Shiites, demonized, victimized, and driven to extremes.
08 September 2012, 22:00
00
Why would he get himself involved in this part of the country. Only visiting is almost an idiocy. But then he's head of the Catholic church, what to expect from them...
09 September 2012, 04:51
02
He better be accompanied by hundred bodyguards because history tells us both Israel and Syria would love to ignite and undermine things in Lebanon to keep it unstable.
09 September 2012, 07:42
03
Min Canada... Are you Muslim? The pope is human and he can be killed. God does not nessisarily intervene to protect the pope. I mean he did not intervene to save his son Jesus, so in the context we have enough resources to protect him ourselves without divine intervention.
10 September 2012, 04:54
00
Bistonie - Again your a faggot....go back to your hole for a few hundred years...moron!
10 September 2012, 06:22
10
Why are u upset because you can't handle the truth. Look at Lebanon even though there not gay they all act like they are. You folks are not French or American, so stop acting like it. All you care about is appearances, you judge people by there clothes, you are racist obnoxious rude, greedy, selfish,. Just to mention a few. Obviously I don't mean everyone but a big percentage of you lowlifes, lak itfoo pool alaik wa al baba tay ' ak
11 September 2012, 05:06
00
Bullshit-Bistonie......you are an insult to all Muslims of the World! Go back to your hole and dont come out until you have read and understood the Holy Qur'an you moron. You dont know what peace means and never will! God help you!
