Papal visit to Lebanon: Patriarch Gregorius III's hopes

(Vatican Radio) Patriarch Gregorius III Latham, head of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church, says Pope Benedict's visit to Lebanon this month is a very important and eagerly-awaited event. The Patriarch also says he prays that this papal visit will help bring peace and reconciliation to neighbouring Syria. Pope Benedict arrives in Beirut on September 14th for a 3-day visit during which he will present the Apostolic Exhortation, the document in which he summarises and reflects on the discussions of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East held in 2010.

Listen to the extended interview with Patriarch Gregorius III by Vatican Radio's Susy Hodges:

Patriarch Gregorius says the papal visit to Lebanon is "very very important" and describes it as a "wonderful and special historic event." "We are happy that he is coming," he declares. The Greek Melkite leader says it's a visit "for the whole country" and that the Pope is bringing "a message for the whole Middle East."

Asked about whether the Pope's visit can help contribute to peace in neighbouring Syria, the Patriarch says this papal trip is "a real visit of peace" and recalls how the Pope has made more than a dozen appeals for peace, reconciliation and dialogue in neighbouring Syria since the conflict began nearly 18 months ago. The Greek Melkite leader says Benedict's trip is "a visit for Lebanon but also a visit for Syria" and expresses the hope that Syrian Catholics will be able to come from their war-torn homeland to see the Pope in Lebanon.

Patriarch Gregorius speaks of the close historic links between Lebanon and Syria that date back many centuries. "What happens in Syria," he says, "can always have, and had always in the (past) history, an influence in Lebanon." But, he goes on to say, "we hope that this influence, this link, will be a positive one and we pray that Lebanon will help Syria to overcome this crisis."

The Patriarch says that Lebanon is a model of "co-existence, a model of democracy" with around 18 different ethnic/religious communities who all share a stake in the nation.