Benedict XVI Calls on Christians to Coexist, 'Admires Courage' of Syria Youth
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Pope Benedict XVI called on Saturday on the Christian youth not to be afraid and to coexist with others, expressing admiration the courage of Syria's youth.
"Together with the young Christians, you are the future of this fine country and of the Middle East in general," he told them. "Seek to build it up together! And when you are older, continue to live in unity and harmony with Christians."
He said the "beauty of Lebanon is found in this fine symbiosis. It is vital that the Middle East in general, looking at you, should understand that Muslims and Christians, Islam and Christianity, can live side by side without hatred, with respect for the beliefs of each person, so as to build together a free and humane society."
To the Christian youth, Benedict addressed a special plea, encouraging them not to despair of their situation and emigrate.
"In a constantly changing world you are faced with many serious challenges, but not even unemployment and uncertainty should lead you to taste the bitter sweetness of emigration, which involves an uprooting and a separation for the sake of an uncertain future,” the 85-year-old pontiff said.
"You are meant to be protagonists of your country’s future and to take your place in society and in the Church."
Saying the Church needs their youthful enthusiasm and creativity, the pope counseled them to "seek beauty and strive for goodness," and not to "take refuge in parallel worlds like "narcotics or the bleak world of pornography."
And while saying social networks can be "interesting," they can "quite easily lead to addiction and confusion between the real and the virtual."
In that vein, he counseled them to "look for relations of genuine, uplifting friendship" and to find ways of giving meaning and depth to their lives, while fighting against "superficiality and mindless consumption."
He called upon them to become witnesses to others of the love of Christ.
Developing what has become a central theme of his visit, he said that in Christ "all men and women are our brothers and sisters."
"Christ asks you, then, to do as he did: to be completely open to others, even if they belong to a different cultural, religious or national group. Making space for them, respecting them, being good to them, making them ever more rich in humanity and firm in the peace of the Lord."
The pope said that he admires the courage of Syria's youth and is saddened by what they and their families are suffering, as violence rages in their country.
"I want to tell you how much I admire your courage," the pontiff said, adding that he was "sad because of your suffering and your bereavement."
The meeting was open to youth from all faiths and none, and the pope also had warm words for those Muslims who were there.
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15 September 2012, 19:19
Benedict XVl: I pray for the youths in Syria. I am moved by your courage and I pray for your families. The pope never forgets you. I am sad but I never forget the Middle East that is suffering. It is time for the Muslims and Christians to unite and put an end to violence and war.
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15 September 2012, 19:18
Benedict XVl: I salute the young Muslims and thank them for coming. You are the future of the country along with the Christians. You should both seek to work together and maintain coexistence. The Middle East must understand that Islam and Christianity can coexist in a spirit of faith within a free and humanitarian society.
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15 September 2012, 19:17
Benedict XVl: I hope that all the youth would be open to others.
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15 September 2012, 19:16
Benedict XVl: Lebanon is the land of hospitality and coexistence and you have an unprecedented ability to integrate and adapt.
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15 September 2012, 19:15
Benedict XVl: The Apostolic Exhortation is a message to all youths. I advice you to read it and to practice it.
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15 September 2012, 19:13
Benedict XVl: Reconciliation and forgiveness is the path towards peace.
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15 September 2012, 19:12
Benedict XVl: I call on you to resist violence and war.
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15 September 2012, 19:11
Benedict XVl: Christ calls on us to love others and to respect the other.
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15 September 2012, 19:10
Benedict XVl: I call on you to dispel myths and lies as much as you love Christ by prayer that is an effective way to all Christians.
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15 September 2012, 19:09
Benedict XVl: Fear leads us to stray away from values.
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15 September 2012, 19:08
Benedict XVl: Difficulties should not lead you to a world of drugs and disadvantages.
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15 September 2012, 19:08
Benedict XVl: You will find courage in this difficult life in Christ who says "my peace I give to you."
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15 September 2012, 19:07
Benedict XVl: We must always seek what is beautiful and as John Paul II said I tell you, "Do not be afraid."
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15 September 2012, 19:06
Pope Benedict XVl's Speech in Bkirki to Lebanese, Middle East Youths: The Church is still young and trusts you. The youth is the stage of ambition and prosperity.
16 September 2012, 01:06
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The head of the Vatican / Holy Roman Empire is telling us thatnwe can go exist. It was the Muslim state which protected the Christians in the Holy Land, Holy Rome united together for the crusades which never spared Christians, Muslims , or Jews. Isn't it true father that the catholic church, deems all non catolic Christians as a heretics. How about Rwanda , were the majority slaughtered 800000 non catholics, why did they bomb Serbia , also because there non catholic, go take your rubbish and stop being a hypocrite, courageous youth fight , they don't surrender and be slaughtered like sheep ,
16 September 2012, 03:52
01
Alquds, your a lost soul. You are mis informed and you have radical and incorrect conclusions based on a lack of understanding.
1 it is not the holy roman empire - it is the holy sea.
2 the crusades were needed so that we can understand Muslim mentality. Ultimately Christians were slaughtered by Muslims and its radical teachings and the crusades repelled them - even though we don't agree with violence.
3 the Vatican did not bomb Serbia, nor did they kill 800000 people in rawanda.
4 the Pope has spoken about peace only and good will and you say kill kill kill. You are probably one that enjoys hearing about the end of the world and think to yourself how can I make my mark... You are probably a terrorist.
5 Jesus is the son of God. You will not understand this. Therefore talking religiously will not work just talk humaniterianly and mabye we can get somewhere
16 September 2012, 04:07
10
The last one was trained in st josephs university in Beirut, goes by the name count Hans kolvenbach
The holy see destroyed Christianity, that picture you folks worship is Leonardo davinci and not Jesus Christ peace be upon him
16 September 2012, 04:11
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Allah does not need a son, if he wanted o ne he could have had ten but he is perfection, Jesus is a prophet, he ate, he slept and according to christianity he died, so does you god die, if they repelled the. Muslims why did they also kill the Christians and Jews in the holy land
16 September 2012, 06:03
02
@alquds: You are trying to rewrite history hopelessly, the reality and facts are the Pope is spreading love, peace and unity to the Lebanese Christians and Muslims by telling the world to take from this country an example of how people from any religion can coexist and live in peace. Stop mixing apples and oranges to divert people's attention from his message and learn from his message on how to return to alquds by convincing Abu Mazen to make peace with the Israeli so that the Arab-israeli war is dissolved.
16 September 2012, 09:42
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Benedict XVl: I salute the young Muslims and thank them for coming. You are the future of the country along with the Christians. ............. in the Baals lebanese army.
16 September 2012, 09:43
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Benedict XVl: You will find courage in this difficult life in Christ who says "my peace I give to you." ................ to the Baals lebanese army
17 September 2012, 00:26
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Alquds, you are ignorant, and live in your own world of hatred... By saying what you just said about Jesus, you are doing the same thing the film maker said about the prophet Mohamed - you are disrespecting other people's sacred religious beliefs... The point you are missing is that the problem is not about differences of religion, but it's the non-acceptance of others, which makes you no better than bin laden, a cowardly bigot at best... The day you learn to coexist is the day you move out of being a barbarian, and you enter the realm of being a civilized human being...
