Pope Benedict begins pilgrimage of peace to Lebanon

(September 14, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Friday began a much awaited 3-day pilgrimage of peace to the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in a symbolic gesture embracing the entire Christian community of the Middle East. The September 14-16 visit is the 85-year old Pontiff’s 24th visit outside Italy and is taking place even as conflict and violence sweep through the region from counties as close as Syria and Iraq to Yemen, Libya and Egypt. In his first speech on Lebanese soil after arrival from Rome at Beirut’s “Rafiq Hariri” International Airport in the afternoon, the Pope said he has "come to Lebanon as a pilgrim of peace, as a friend of God and as a friend of men." "And looking beyond your country, I also come symbolically to all the countries of the Middle East as a pilgrim of peace, as a friend of God and as a friend of all the inhabitants of all the countries of the region, whatever their origins and beliefs," he said. The Pontiff held out the harmony, tolerance and coexistence among the various Christian Churches and other religions in Lebanese society as a model for the entire Middle East and the world. Describing this characteristic as the “celebrated Lebanese equilibrium” the Pope said “the successful way the Lebanese all live together surely demonstrates to the whole Middle East and to the rest of the world that, within a nation, there can exist cooperation between the various churches, all members of the one Catholic Church in a fraternal spirit of communion with other Christians, and at the same time coexistence and respectful dialogue between Christians and their brethren of other religions. The Pope who spoke in French, however warned that this equilibrium is extremely delicate and can be overstretched or submitted to pressures which are too often partisan, even selfish, contrary and extraneous to Lebanese harmony and gentleness. This is where, he said, real moderation and great wisdom are tested. And reason must overcome one-sided passion in order to promote the greater good of all. The Pontiff went further underling the importance of God in the life of everyone in maintaining this coexistence and conviviality, which he said will run deep only if it is founded upon a welcoming regard for the other and upon an attitude of benevolence, and if it is rooted in God who wishes all men to be brothers. He therefore urged that this Lebanese equilibrium be sought with insistence, preserved at all costs, and consolidated with determination.
Pope Benedict was accorded a state welcome at the airport by President Michel Sleiman, in the presence of the diplomatic corps and numerous Church, religious, political and civil authorities, with a 21-gun salute and the singing of the national anthems of the Vatican and Lebanon. The Pope said that he was in Lebanon on the invitation of the president as well as the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops of Lebanon. He said he was there to sign and present the important Apostolic Exhortation ‘Ecclesia in Medio Oriente’ (The Church in the Middle East), based on the recommendations of the Special Synod of Bishops for the Middle East held in the Vatican in October, 2010. He said the Exhortation to all the Christians of the Middle East is intended as a roadmap for the years to come. The Holy Father also expressed appreciation for the presence of Orthodox Patriarchs and Bishops, saying it shows the esteem and the cooperation which, in mutual respect, they wish to promote among everyone.