SUMMARY:
- POPE
ARRIVES IN LEBANON AS A FRIEND OF ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE MIDDLE
EAST
- OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
- NOTICE
______________________________________
POPE
ARRIVES IN LEBANON AS A FRIEND OF ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE MIDDLE
EAST
Vatican
City, 14 September 2012 (VIS) - Shortly before 2 p.m. local time
today, Benedict XVI arrived at the international airport of Beirut,
which is named after Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of
Lebanon who was killed in a bomb attack in 2005.
The Holy
Father was greeted by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, His
Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites;
Nabih Berri, speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, and Naguib Miqati,
prime minister of Lebanon.
Pronouncing
his first words on Lebanese soil, the Pope recalled how, during
President Sleiman's visit to the Vatican in February 2011, a ceremony
had taken place to bless a great statue of St. Maron which stands in
a niche on the outside wall of the Vatican Basilica. The presence of
that statue, Pope Benedict said, "is a constant reminder of
Lebanon in the very place where the Apostle Peter was laid to rest.
It witnesses to a long spiritual heritage, confirming the Lebanese
people’s veneration for the first of the Apostles and for his
successors". The Holy Father also expressed his satisfaction at
the excellent relations that have always existed between Lebanon and
the Holy See, and underlined the ecclesial importance of one of the
reasons for his trip, "the signature and the consigning of the
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Special Assembly for the
Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, 'Ecclesia in Medio Oriente'".
He then
went on to thank the Catholic patriarchs for their presence,
particularly Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir and his successor
Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai. He also greeted Lebanese bishops and,
through them, "all the Christians of the Middle East". The
Exhortation, he explained, is "addressed to everyone" and
"is intended as a roadmap for the years to come. During these
days I am also pleased to be able to meet many representatives from
the Catholic communities of your country, so as to celebrate and pray
together. Their presence, commitment and witness are a valued
contribution and are highly appreciated in the daily life of all the
inhabitants of your beloved country". The Pope also expressed
his warm greetings to the Orthodox patriarchs and bishops who had
come to welcome him, as well as representatives of the other
religious communities in Lebanon.
"Your
presence", he said, "shows the esteem and the cooperation
which, in mutual respect, you wish to promote among everyone. I thank
you for your efforts and I am certain that you will continue to seek
out the paths of unity and concord. I cannot forget the sad and
painful events which have affected your beautiful country along the
years. 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. Like me, you know that this equilibrium,
which is presented everywhere as an example, is extremely delicate.
Sometimes it seems about to snap like a bow which is overstretched or
submitted to pressures which are too often partisan, even selfish,
contrary and extraneous to Lebanese harmony and gentleness. This is
where real moderation and great wisdom are tested. And reason must
overcome one-sided passion in order to promote the greater good of
all".
"I
have also come to say how important the presence of God is in the
life of everyone and how the manner of coexistence, this conviviality
to which your country wishes to bear witness, 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. The celebrated Lebanese equilibrium which wishes
to continue to be a reality, will continue through the good will and
commitment of all Lebanese. Only then will it serve as a model to the
inhabitants of the whole region and of the entire world. This is not
just a human task, but a gift of God which should be sought with
insistence, preserved at all costs, and consolidated with
determination".
"I
have come to Lebanon as a pilgrim of peace, as a friend of God and as
a friend of men. ... 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.
... Your joys and sorrows are constantly present in the Pope's
prayers and I ask God to accompany you and to comfort you. Let me
assure you that I pray especially for the many people who suffer in
this region. The statue of St. Maron reminds me of what you live and
endure".
Following
the welcome ceremony the Pope travelled to the apostolic nunciature
in Harissa.
OTHER
PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican
City, 14 September 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
-
Appointed Bishop James D. Conley, auxiliary of the archdiocese of
Denver, U.S.A., as bishop of Lincoln (area 61,732, population
580,826, Catholics 95,584, priests 147, permanent deacons 3,
religious 224), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz, whose
resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy
Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
-
Appointed Bishop Rosolino Bianchetti Boffelli of Zacapa y Santo
Cristo de Esquipulas, Guatemala, as bishop of Quiche (area 8,378,
population 732,000, Catholics 515,000, priests 33, religious 97),
Guatemala.
NOTICE
Vatican
City, 14 September 2012 (VIS) - The Vatican Information service will
transmit special bulletins on Saturday 15 September and on Sunday 16
September, to cover the Holy Father’s apostolic trip to Lebanon.
You
can find more information at: www.visnews.org
The
news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used,
in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S.
-Vatican Information Service.
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© Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City
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