(17 Feb 08 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI made an appeal for Lebanon on Sunday. The country
has not had a president for 3 months. Pope Benedict made an appeal for Lebanon,
whose ongoing political crisis he says he has been following with concern. For
three months, the country has been without a President, as rival parties in parliament
cannot agree on government. The Holy Father pointed out that efforts to resolve
the crisis and the support offered by many prominent representatives of the international
community, even if they have not yet obtained a result, demonstrate the intention
to identify a president who would be such for all Lebanese, and thus lay the foundation
for overcoming existing divisions. Unfortunately, the Pope says, there is also
no lack of reasons for concern, above all because of unusual verbal violence, or even
because of those who put their trust in weapons and in the physical elimination of
their adversaries. Pope Benedict then said that together with the Maronite patriarch
and all the Lebanese bishops he asks all to unite themselves with his prayer to Our
Lady of Lebanon, that she might encourage the citizens of that dear nation, and in
particular the politicians, to continue tenaciously in favour of reconciliation, truly
sincere dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and the good of their common homeland. The
Pope was speaking after his Sunday Angelus. Before reciting the marian prayer, he
spoke of the Sunday Gospel, which was an account of the transfiguration. Insert
T. In this Sunday’s Gospel, we hear how Jesus was transfigured in the presence of
his three closest followers, Peter, James and John. They were granted a glimpse of
Christ in glory, and they heard the voice of the Father urging them to listen to his
beloved Son. As we continue our Lenten journey, we renew our resolve to listen attentively
to the Son of God, and we draw comfort . We have this report... 00:02:08:40