Pope Says Elections Crucial for Lebanon

(11 Nov 07 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI has appealed for a solution to the current political deadlock in Lebanon describing approaching presidential elections as crucial to the nation's very survival.
The Holy Father’s appeal followed the Angelus prayer, during which he also reflected on the figure of St Martin of Tours and how his example is key to building a world of solidarity.
In comments in Italian to the thousands of pilgrims gathered beneath a winter’s sky, Pope Benedict said “As the numerous initiatives of these days show”, the pending elections for a new Head of State in Lebanon “is a crucial passage, upon which depends the very survival of Lebanon and its institutions.”
The Pope said he shared Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir's concerns, recently expressed regarding the divisions among the nation’s political leaders as well as his desire that “all Lebanese can see themselves represented in the new president”. The Holy Father said he prayed that “all interested parties ... take the necessary distance from personal interests and have true passion for common good”.
The Pope’s appeal comes in the wake of the latest delay in the crucial parliamentary vote. Saturday evening the vote was postponed for the third time to November 21, three days before current President Emile Lahoud’s mandate expires. A September session failed to reach quorum because of an opposition boycott, and an October attempt was postponed as negotiators struggled to find a compromise candidate.
But tensions between pro-Syrian parties and the government and the divisions among Christian deputies have failed to bring consensus on a candidate. Failure to elect a president could result in rival governments or a power vacuum.
Earlier the Pope had also urged the world to greater solidarity so that there is access to food, water and medicine for all, once again, by holding up the example of a Saint, 4th century Martin of Tours:
“At this time the Church remembers Saint Martin of Tours, the saintly monk and bishop who was moved with such great compassion for the sufferings of the poor. Recalling the occasion when he cut his cloak in two, and gave one half to a poor man, we resolve to follow his example by sharing what we have with those less fortunate than ourselves”.
St Martin, concluded the Pope “helps us to understand that only through a common commitment to sharing, can we answer to the great challenges of our time: that is to build a world of justice and peace, where every human being can live in dignity. This can only happen if a global model of authentic solidarity prevails, capable of insuring that all of the worlds’ people have food, water, healthcare, but also work and recourse to energy as well as culture and scientific and technological knowledge”. Emer Mc Carthy reports: