September 12, 2012: Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday appealed for Peace and reconciliation
in the Middle East ahead of his pastoral Visit to Lebanon this weekend. Speaking in
French at the General audience he said that he is looking forward to the Apostolic
Journey. "I will be meeting many components of the Lebanese society: Political and
ecclesiastical officials, Catholic faithful of different rites, and other Christians,
Muslims and Druze in the region. I thank the Lord for this richness that cannot be
sustained unless one lives in peace and lasting reconciliation. This is why I urge
all Christians in the Middle East, whether native or newcomer, to be active builders
of peace and reconciliation." He said.
"I ask God to strengthen the faith
of Christians in Lebanon and the Middle East, and fill them with hope. I thank God
for their presence and encourage the whole church in solidarity so that they can continue
to witness to Christ in these lands blessed by seeking communion in unity. I thank
God for all people and all institutions, in many ways, help them in this direction.
The history of the Middle East teaches us the important and often critical role played
by the various Christian communities in interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Ask
God to give this part of the world the desired peace, with respect for legitimate
differences. God bless Lebanon and the Middle East! God bless you all!” He concluded.
Tuesday morning, presenting the programme of the visit, Fr Federico Lombardi,
Director of the Press Office of the Holy See put a firm stop to the conjectures that
are continuing to be circulated by some of the media on the possible postponement
of Benedict XVI's visit to Lebanon. It is a journey that has never been disputed,
most of all because the Pope strongly desired and is very keen to go "to the Middle
East as a messenger of peace and hope"; he said. "There are no doubts regarding questions
of security. This is especially because all the communities that exist in Lebanon,
even Hezbollah, have made it known that they are awaiting the Pope and his message
of peace with pleasure.
It is a message that the Pope is absolutely set on
bringing, to encourage the peoples of the region "not to let themselves be influenced
by circumstances or uncertainties". Fr Lombardi then provided several details of the
schedule of this 24th international journey of Pope Ratzinger, the fourth in the Middle
Eastern region after his visits to Turkey in 2006, to the Holy Land in 2009 and to
Cyprus in 2010, but it is also the first after the so-called "Arab spring". In Lebanon
Benedict XVI will present to everyone, hence not only to Catholics, the Apostolic
Exhortation which is the result of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for
the Middle East, celebrated in 2010.