Pope's Prayers for Visit to Holy Land

(19 June 08 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI appealed Thursday to international leaders to bring peace to the Middle East

The Holy Father was addressing members of R.O.A.C.O. that is the “Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches” at the end of their annual session.

The Pope also urged greater spiritual and material support for the Christian communities in the Holy Land, Lebanon and in particular Iraq, recalling his “deep sorrow” at the murder of the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, Paulos Faraj Rahho, who he described as a man of “dialogue and peace”.

“Like so many Iraqi Christians” noted the Pope “he took up his own cross and followed the Lord, in an effort to bring justice to his martyred homeland”.

The Pope then turned to Lebanon, underlining the “recent developments in dialogue and mutual comprehension”. He expressed his hope that the “land of the cedars will find the courage to become a symbol of peaceful coexistence between peoples, for the Middle East and the entire world”.

Finally turning to the plight of the dwindling Christian community in the Holy Land, Pope Benedict, described the survival of the Christian presence there as vital for the entire Church and added he is fervently praying to be able to visit the land of Christ’s birth in the near future.

Peace he concluded “is the only solution to the grave problem of refugees and to stop emigration particularly Christian emigration which is wounding the Eastern Churches”.

A Peace that allows social stability, respect for basic human rights and real religious freedom.