{"id":1086,"date":"2012-09-16T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-16T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/pope-lebanon-can-be-beacon-of-religious-co-existence\/"},"modified":"2012-09-16T19:30:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-16T19:30:00","slug":"pope-lebanon-can-be-beacon-of-religious-co-existence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/09\/pope-lebanon-can-be-beacon-of-religious-co-existence\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope: Lebanon can be beacon of religious co-existence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Beirut, Lebanon, Sep 16, 2012 \/ 01:30 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- At his departure from Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI said the religious co-existence the people of Lebanon showed during his three-day apostolic visit can become an inspiration and model for the rest of the Middle East.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIn these troubled times, the Arab world and indeed the entire world will have seen Christians and Muslims united in celebrating peace,\u201d said the Pope at Beirut\u2019s Rafik Hariri Airport September 16.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI thank in particular representatives of the Muslim communities. Through my stay here, I have noticed how much your presence has contributed to the success of my journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThroughout Pope Benedict\u2019s apostolic visit he has been welcomed by both Christians and Muslims at all his public events. The Lebanese population is 39 percent Christian and 60 percent Muslim.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tThe Pope thanked God for these occasions and thanked everyone in Lebanon and the Middle East for their prayers, \u201cwhatever their origins or religious beliefs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThere had been worries in some quarters before Pope Benedict left for Lebanon on Friday that he was flying into an unpredictable political and religious situation. Neighboring Syria is currently embroiled in a civil-war while there are also increasing anti-U.S. protests across the region. Those worries proved to be unfounded.<\/p>\n

\tPope Benedict prayed that Lebanon would \u201ccontinue to be a place where men and women can live in harmony and peace with each other\u201d so as to witness to God\u2019s presence in the world and also to the communion between people \u201cwhatever their political, social, or religious standpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cI hope that Lebanon will continue to permit the plurality of religious traditions and not listen to the voices of those who wish to prevent it,\u201d said the Pope towards the close of his address. He added that the Lebanese people should continue to \u201cresolutely reject all that could lead to disunity, and with determination choose brotherhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAs if to underline the point, Pope Benedict then received a warm goodbye from all the representatives of Lebanon\u2019s religions, including the leaders of the most significant branches of the Islamic faith.<\/p>\n

\tThe pontiff then had a final farewell from the President of Lebanon, General Michel Sleiman, as hundreds of cheering Lebanese children waved Papal flags.<\/p>\n

\tThe Pope departed on his specially chartered papal plane back to Rome.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beirut, Lebanon, Sep 16, 2012 \/ 01:30 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- At his departure from Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI said the religious co-existence the people of Lebanon showed during his three-day apostolic visit can become an inspiration and model for the re…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-middle-east-africa"],"yoast_head":"\nPope: Lebanon can be beacon of religious co-existence<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Beirut, Lebanon, Sep 16, 2012 \/ 01:30 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- At his departure from Lebanon, Pope Benedict XVI said the religious co-existence the people of Lebanon showed during his three-day apostolic visit can become an inspiration and model for the re...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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