Berri Stresses Need to Benefit from Pope’s Visit: 50,000 Kuwaitis Didn’t Travel to Lebanon over Abductions
Speaker Nabih Berri noted that Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Lebanon is not strictly aimed at Christians, but all of the Lebanese people, especially in light of recent developments in the country, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.
He called on “everyone to welcome the visit and benefit from it in order to assert Lebanon’s role in the region given the critical situation.”
The speaker relayed Bkirki’s assertions that the pope’s visit still stands in spite of the security tension in Lebanon.
“The developments are a main motivator for the pope to stress Lebanon” as a message of unity and diversity as stipulated by his predecessor John Paul II, said Berri.
“The residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs will block the airport road with flowers and slogans of greetings to the pope, who will be the guest of the whole of Lebanon,” he noted.
“The pope will help bolster the people’s determination and faith in their country despite the difficulties,” he continued.
Pope Benedict XVI is scheduled to visit Lebanon from September 14 to 16.
The Vatican had repeatedly announced that the visit will go on as scheduled despite the instability in Lebanon and the unrest in the region.
Commenting on the recent kidnappings in Lebanon, Berri revealed that some 50,000 Kuwaitis cancelled traveling to the country in light of the recent instability.
The speaker made his remarks before Saturday’s abduction of Kuwaiti national Issam al-Houti in Lebanon.
He was kidnapped by unknown assailants upon his return to his residence in Hawsh al-Ghanam region in the Bekaa.
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