2012-08-25 19:56:18

Christians and Muslims Preparing for Pope's visit to Lebanon: Msgr. Marsi


August 25, 2012: Preparations for the Pope's upcoming visit to Lebanon continue. The visit is scheduled to take place from September 14 to 16 – and the sense of anticipation among the Lebanese Christian community is strong. The General Treasurer of the Syrian Catholic Patriarchate in Lebanon, Msgr. George Masri, told Vatican Radio on Friday that the Holy Father's visit is an event of hope for the whole Church, especially for his community, which constitutes a small minority who, he says, "live their witness with blood."
“We are,” he continued, “a Church of martyrs - but at the same time we are a minority living through trust and hope in Jesus Christ.”
Asked about the impact the Pope's visit might have on dialogue among Christians and Muslims in the broader region, Msgr. Masri said that, although “dogmatic” dialogue is difficult, “The Holy Father gives confidence and courage,” that help Lebanese Christians to conduct what he calls a “living dialogue,” with their Muslim neighbours. “We have great hopes for the visit of the Holy Father,” he said, “and we are preparing, Christians and Muslims, in this great event. We hope that the dialogue between us and our Muslim brothers can remain a dialogue of true coexistence.”
Bloody clashes between supporters and opponents of the Syrian regime have broken out in Tripoli, in the country’s north. Lebanon-based Monsignor Georges Masri told Vatican Radio that the clashes are not impacting on the pope’s visit to Beirut, which is some 100 kilometers (65 miles) to the south.
Separately, a top Vatican official, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, told reporters at a conference in Rimini, Italy, that the pilgrimage remains confirmed.








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