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.