Papal envoy to Lebanon, Cardinal Etchegaray, winds up visit
(16th Aug.2006): -Cardinal Roger Etchegaray’s visit to Lebanon ended Wed. 16th Aug. with a press conference at the headquarters of the Vatican Nunciature of Harissa. The President Emeritus of Justice and Peace went to Beirut on 14 August as the personal envoy of Pope Benedict XVI . In his meeting with journalists, he emphasized the strong closeness of the pope to the suffering of all Lebanese people, and appealed for unity among Christians and Muslims in Lebanon. He also highlighted the need to respect the ceasefire and to put a stop all acts of violence, making the Lebanese more supportive and united. Cardinal Etchegaray also participated in an extraordinary meeting of Maronite bishops and superior-generals in Bkerke, under the chairmanship of Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, to study ways and means of bringing the country out of the crisis.
The most meaningful moment of his visit took place Tuesday, 15th Aug. when the cardinal presided over a solemn mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon at Harissa. It was attended by all the patriarchs and bishops of the country and more than 6,000 believers. In his homily, Cardinal Etchegaray reiterated “the pope’s condemnation of all violence that has caused many deaths, especially among civilians”, and he upheld the necessity of respecting all the leaders of the country, despite criticisms, for their work in favour of peace. The right road to peace, he said is spiritual rather than political, and no peace can last, although there may be agreements, without peace that comes from the heart.
The French Cardinal,who according to the Vatican State Secretariat was undertaking a “strictly religious” mission, expressed confidence anew in Lebanon’s future, underlining the urgent need for tolerance among religions in the country and asking one and all to know how to forgive. Throughout his brief stay, the pope’s envoy also had meetings with the President, Emile Lahoud, the Premier, Fouad Sinora, and the Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri. The Cardinal also visited the Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Mouhammad Rachid Kobbani, and the deputy chairman of the Shiite Higher Council, Sheikh Abd El Amir Kabalan. From the presidential palace in Baabda, the cardinal made another appeal to all Lebanese “in the pope’s name”, urging the population “to remain united”. He said: “On the basis of this unity, the Lebanese people will render a great service to the whole world.”
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