(Vatican Radio) – “My apostolic visit to Lebanon, and by extension to the Middle
East as a whole, is placed under the sign of peace”: On the eve of his departure,
Pope Benedict XVI has clearly stated the aim of this his 24th foreign visit and has
voiced his serious concern for the “daily sufferings” of the people of the Middle
East, “which sadly, and at times mortally, plague their personal and family life”.
Emer McCarthy reports Listen:
In his greeting
to French speaking pilgrims at Castel Gandolfo for the midday Angelus this Sunday,
Pope Benedict said his visit to Lebanon, extends to the peoples of the entire region,
“too long torn apart by incessant conflicts”.
He added “My concerned thoughts
go out to those who, in search of a place of peace, leave their family and professional
life, and experience the precariousness of being exiles. Even though the search for
solutions to the various problems affecting the region seems difficult, we can not
resign ourselves to the violence and exasperation of tensions. A commitment to dialogue
and reconciliation must be a priority for all parties involved, and must be supported
by the international community, increasingly aware of the importance of a stable and
lasting peace in the region for the entire world”.
Below a Vatican
Radio translation of Pope Benedict’s words. Original text in French:
Dear
pilgrims, those of you here, or who are taking part in the Angelus through radio or
television; in the coming days, I will make an apostolic visit to Lebanon to sign
the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, fruit of the Special Assembly for the Middle
East of the Synod of Bishops, held in October 2010. I will have the happy opportunity
to meet with the Lebanese people and authorities, and the Christians of that beloved
country and those from neighboring countries. I am aware of the often dramatic situation
experienced by the people of this region, too long torn apart by incessant conflicts.
I understand the anguish of many Middle Eastern people immersed in daily sufferings
of all kinds, which sadly, and at times mortally, plague their personal and family
life. My concerned thoughts go out to those who, in search of a place of peace, leave
their family and professional life, and experience the precariousness of being exiles.
Even though the search for solutions to the various problems affecting the region
seems difficult, we can not resign ourselves to the violence and exasperation of tensions.
A commitment to dialogue and reconciliation must be a priority for all parties involved,
and must be supported by the international community, increasingly aware of the importance
of a stable and lasting peace in the region for the whole world. My apostolic visit
to Lebanon, and by extension in the Middle East as a whole, is placed under the sign
of peace, referring to the words of Christ: "My peace I give to you" (John 14:27).
May God bless Lebanon and the Middle East! May God bless you all!