Pope Benedict Makes Appeal for Lebanon

(17 Feb 08 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI made an appeal for Lebanon on Sunday. The country has not had a president for 3 months.
Pope Benedict made an appeal for Lebanon, whose ongoing political crisis he says he has been following with concern.
For three months, the country has been without a President, as rival parties in parliament cannot agree on government.
The Holy Father pointed out that efforts to resolve the crisis and the support offered by many prominent representatives of the international community, even if they have not yet obtained a result, demonstrate the intention to identify a president who would be such for all Lebanese, and thus lay the foundation for overcoming existing divisions.
Unfortunately, the Pope says, there is also no lack of reasons for concern, above all because of unusual verbal violence, or even because of those who put their trust in weapons and in the physical elimination of their adversaries.
Pope Benedict then said that together with the Maronite patriarch and all the Lebanese bishops he asks all to unite themselves with his prayer to Our Lady of Lebanon, that she might encourage the citizens of that dear nation, and in particular the politicians, to continue tenaciously in favour of reconciliation, truly sincere dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and the good of their common homeland.
The Pope was speaking after his Sunday Angelus. Before reciting the marian prayer, he spoke of the Sunday Gospel, which was an account of the transfiguration.
Insert T. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear how Jesus was transfigured in the presence of his three closest followers, Peter, James and John. They were granted a glimpse of Christ in glory, and they heard the voice of the Father urging them to listen to his beloved Son. As we continue our Lenten journey, we renew our resolve to listen attentively to the Son of God, and we draw comfort . We have this report... 00:02:08:40