Pope urges Mideast to work for peace

17 Sep 2012, 9:11 am   -   Source: AAP
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The Pope has urged Middle East leaders to work for peace as he ended his visit to Lebanon, whose neighbour Syria is engulfed in civil war.

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Pope Benedict XVI has prayed that Middle East leaders work towards peace and reconciliation, stressing again the central theme of his visit to Lebanon, whose neighbour, Syria, is engulfed in civil war.

"May God grant to your country, to Syria and to the Middle East the gift of peaceful hearts, the silencing of weapons and the cessation of all violence," the Pope said at the end of mass on the final day of his trip to Lebanon on Sunday.

Benedict also appealed to the international community and to Arab countries, in particular, that "as brothers, they might propose workable solutions respecting the dignity, the rights and the religion of every human person".

In his weekly Angelus, a prayer to the Virgin Mary, the pontiff said: "Let us ask her to intercede with her divine Son ... for the people of Syria and the neighbouring countries, imploring the gift of peace.

"You know all too well the tragedy of the conflicts and the violence which generates so much suffering. Sadly, the din of weapons continues to make itself heard, along with the cry of the widow and the orphan.

"Violence and hatred invade people's lives, and the first victims are women and children. Why so much horror? Why so many dead?"

And in remarks before flying out to Rome, the Pope said: "I pray to God for Lebanon, that she may live in peace and courageously resist all that could destroy or undermine that peace.

"I hope that Lebanon will fortify the communion among all her inhabitants, whatever their community or religion, that she will resolutely reject all that could lead to disunity, and with determination choose brotherhood."

An estimated 350,000 people had gathered under a bright warm sun to join Benedict as he celebrated a solemn mass on his third and final day in Lebanon.

On Saturday, the frail 85-year-old pontiff urged Middle Eastern Christians and Muslims to forge a harmonious, pluralistic society in which the dignity of each person is respected and the right to worship in peace is guaranteed.

The Pope noted that Christians and Muslims have lived side by side in the Middle East for centuries and that there is room for a pluralistic society.

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