Lebanon declares holiday for Pope; a Christian and Muslim vigil planned

(September 08, 2012) The government of Lebanon has declared next Saturday, September 15 an official holiday in honour of Pope Benedict XVI who is visiting the country September 14-16. In a statement on Friday, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said all public administration branches, public institutions, municipalities, schools and private and public universities will close Saturday. The pope arrives next Friday, and Mikati’s statement said the official holiday would allow various sections of the population to participate in his visit. The pope’s visit is expected to draw large crowds, and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel expressed confidence in the security measures taken to protect the pope, who he said is both a spiritual figure and the head of the Vatican state.
Meanwhile a Muslim-Christian vigil is being organized in the Lebanese capital Beirut ahead of the Pope’s visit to invoke the protection of God and the Virgin Mary for the success of visit. On the evening of September 12, four processions of young people will depart from four points of Beirut to converge in the so-called "Garden of Mary", in the Museum Square area, carrying candles and flags of Lebanon. The programme there include songs, Muslim-Christian readings and prayers to ask God and the Mother of Jesus that the papal visit is welcomed by all and lived as a blessing for the country. "The title of the initiative is 'Together In Peace, Love, Freedom And Security'. Father Antoine Daou, Secretary of the Commission of the Lebanese episcopal Conference for dialogue with Islam explained said that September 12 will be a national holiday to show to the world that Lebanon can be the land of coexistence between Christians and Muslims at this moment in history." He said the meeting will be attended by representatives and authorities of all religious communities in the country, along with thousands of faithful.