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POPE BENEDICT XVI IN LEBANON AMIDST MIDEAST TURMOIL/ URGES
UNITY
[PHOTO -President Michel Sleiman welcomes the pontiff at Beirut
airport.]
BEIRYT, LEBANON, SEPTEMBER 17, 2012 (THE LEBANON DAILY STAR)
The recent visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Lebanon should be capitalized
on through inter-Lebanese dialogue, President Michel Sleiman said in remarks
Monday.
"Naturally, the way to capitalize on the pope's visit is via dialogue,"
Sleiman told As-Safir newspaper, referring to the dialogue session scheduled for
Thursday.
Lebanon relaunched National Dialogue earlier this year. The last dialogue
session held on Aug. 16, the third this year since 2010, was set to continue
discussing over the divisive issue of Hezbollah's weapons but talks were
postponed due to the absence of Speaker Nabih Berri among others.
The next National Dialogue session is scheduled to take place on
Sept.
20.
Although the country's politicians remain divided over the issue of
Hezbollah's arsenal, Sleiman has said that he will propose a national defense
strategy to benefit from the weapons of the resistance.
Sleiman, who took part in several ceremonies during the recent visit by Pope
Benedict XVI to Lebanon, also described the three-day papal visit as "success"
at the security and organizational levels despite protests in the region against
an anti-Islam film that insults the Prophet Mohammad.
During his Sept. 14 to Sept. 16 visit, the pontiff stressed on unity among
Lebanese and urged them to resist strife and combat attempts to disrupt peace in
their country. He also called on Christians in the Middle East not to fear but
brave the difficulties they face.
Sleiman said there were important lessons to be learned from the
pope's visit.
"The lessons that should be learned from this visit are fundamental,
particularly that when we are in agreement we can accomplish anything – from
stability to security," Sleiman said.
He also noted the huge crowd that gathered from across the Lebanese spectrum
to attend Sunday's Mass that was headed by the Holy See.
The president also said that political leaders lose sight of the bigger
picture when they continue arguing over the small details.
"We achieve whatever we need with our unity or at least with a minimum of
harmony and interaction," he added.
"We do not need a lot of effort to achieve desirable results."
Pope urges unity as he departs Lebanon September
16, 2012 07:32 PM (Last updated: September 16, 2012 10:38 PM) By Dana Khraiche
The Daily Star
BEIRUT: Pope Benedict XVI urged Lebanese Sunday to reject strife and
continue their model of coexistence before departing Beirut at the end of a rare
three-day visit by the head of the Catholic Church to this Mediterranean
country.
"I pray to God for Lebanon, that she may live in peace and courageously
resist all that could destroy or undermine that peace," Benedict said in his
farewell speech at Beirut's international airport.
"I hope that Lebanon will fortify the communion among all her inhabitants,
whatever their community or religion, that she will resolutely reject all that
could lead to disunity, and with determination choose brotherhood," the pope
added.
The Holy See also praised the efforts of the president and the government in
organizing activities during his stay and said: "In these troubled times, the
Arab world and indeed the entire world will have seen Christians and Muslims
united in celebrating peace."
"May God bless Lebanon and all the Lebanese," the Holy See added as hundreds
of people dressed in white and carrying The Vatican flags chanted his name.
The Holy See waved goodbye to onlookers before boarding a Middle East
Airlines Airbus 320, which took off at 7.30 p.m. and is headed to the Italian
capital Rome.
"But, to that consideration and respect, you added something else [to the
trip], which can be compared to one of those renowned oriental spices which
enriche the taste of food: your warmth and your affection, which make me wish to
return. I thank you for that especially," Benedict said.
President Michel Sleiman, who spoke during the farewell ceremony, thanked the
pontiff for his efforts to help Lebanon remain united and said that his country
would stay loyal to the message of coexistence.
"We cannot but thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your compassion,
care and efforts for the sake of Lebanon and its unity," the president said
after a military band played the national anthems for the Vatican and Lebanon.
"You depart the land of the cedars after bringing it and the East a message
of peace and love in a time of historic changes and challenges," Sleiman said.
Sleiman, the only Christian head of state in the Arab world, also said that
the Synod represents a "new hope for Lebanon," because it carries political,
culture and social recommendations.
Benedict's last stop prior to his departure from Rafik Hariri International
Airport was the Syriac Catholic monastery in Charfet, north of Beirut, where he
called for the unity of Christians in the Middle East.
During the 30-minute meeting with Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph
III Younan as well as patriarchs and bishops of non-Catholic denominations, the
pope stressed the importance of Christian unity in the Middle East and
reiterated his call for Christians not to abandon their land.
[PHOTO- Faithful attend the open air mass. (The Daily
Star/Mohammad Azakir)
Patriarch Younan received the pope upon arrival and accompanied him to the
Hall of Honor, where the Holy See signed the monastery's guest book.
The pontiff, who was welcomed by Lebanese of different faiths during his
stay, will deliver a farewell speech before boarding a Middle East Airlines
Airbus 320 at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport at 7 p.m.
During his three-day visit, which comes 15 years after the landmark visit of
the late Pope John Paul II, the head of the Roman Catholic Church called for
interfaith dialogue as a means to bring peace to the region.
In a Sunday morning Mass attended by an estimated 350,000 people at the
Beirut Water Front City, the pope urged the Arab countries and the world to
propose solutions to end the conflict in Syria.
"Let us ask her [Virgin Mary] to intercede with her divine son for you
[Lebanon] and, more particularly, for the people of Syria and the neighboring
countries, imploring the gift of peace," the pope
said at the end of the
Mass.
"You know the problems that beset the region. There is a tremendous amount of
pain ... Why so much death? I call on the international community and Arab
countries to propose solutions which respect human rights," he added.
Sleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati as well
as MPs and Cabinet ministers attended the Mass. Other politicians in attendance
included Future Movement MP Bahia Hariri and several Hezbollah deputies.
During his visit, the Holy See met with various Christian and Muslim figures
including Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani who delivered a
letter to the pope and said Saturday that "any attack on Christians is in an
attack on Muslims."
The pope, who said he represented a "pilgrim of peace" during his stay in
Lebanon, urged Christians in the country and the Middle East not to abandon
their land.
In a gathering Saturday with Arab and Lebanese youth at Bkirki, the seat of
the Maronite Patriarchate, the pope said he was moved by the courage of Syrian
youth and said he was saddened by the hardships of the people there.
He reiterated his praise of Lebanon's "beautiful coexistence" and urged
Muslim youths to work with their fellow Christians.
During the ceremony, Benedict urged Christians not to abandon their land
because of an "uncertain future."
"Unemployment and dangers should not force you to migrate for an uncertain
future. Act as the makers of your country's future and play your role in society
and the Church," he said.
The Holy See signed the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Special
Assembly for the Middle East Friday in a ceremony at Saint Paul Basilica in
Harissa, north of Beirut, where he urged Christians not to be afraid but brave
difficulties facing them in the region.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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