Geagea Hopes Christians Will Unite over Apostolic Exhortation: Pope’s Visit Was Needed at this Time
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted on Sunday that Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Lebanon pleased Muslims and Christians.
He told LBCI television: “We hope Christians would unite over the Apostolic Exhortation.”
“We hope they would all adhere to it completely,” he added.
Furthermore, he said that the pontiff’s visit was “needed at this time.”
“The Apostolic Exhortation does not address local disputes, but it includes general principles and clear directions in the region,” continued the LF leader.
“There should therefore be no disputes over its implementation,” remarked Geagea.
“There can be no escaping a position on the Arab Spring and other details such as the parliamentary elections have nothing to do with the pope’s visit,” he noted.
“This visit will not only empower the Christians, but it will help them restore some confidence in themselves that has been missing for a while,” he stressed.
Today’s scene in downtown Beirut where the Sunday mass was held “should erase all fears over the fate of Christians in the area, an issue which has only been used for political purposes,” said Geagea.
“We will exert all efforts to ensure that moderate Christians and Muslims are victorious in order to build a better future and end all fears of the other,” he told LBCI.
The pope ends on Sunday a three-day visit to Lebanon.
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