[Apologetics] Vatican says pope’s Lebanon trip still a go despite violence

[DianneD]

Please say some special prayers of protection for our dear Holy Father.
Dianne
 
Vatican says pope’s Lebanon trip 
still a go despite violence
By Alessandro Speciale| 
Religion News Service, Updated: Wednesday, September 12, 3:41 PMAP  
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican confirmed on Wednesday 
(Sept. 12) that Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Lebanon will go ahead as planned, 
despite growing tension in the region after the killing of the U.S. ambassador 
to Libya by a mob enraged by an anti-Islam film. 
The Vatican’s chief spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the Vatican 
was closely monitoring developments in the region but there were no signs of 
specific security concerns for Benedict’s trip so far. 
  
 
Benedict is scheduled to leave on Friday for a three-day visit to Lebanon 
despite rising instability spilling over from a deadly civil war in neighboring 
Syria. The visit is also a signal of the Vatican’s concern for Christian 
minorities in the Middle East who feel under threat after the upheavals of the 
Arab spring revolutions. 
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, 
hailed the “Holy Father’s brave visit to Lebanon” in Washington Wednesday (Sept. 
12) and lamented the “thousands upon thousands” of persecuted Christians fleeing 
the Middle East. 
“These Christian families want to stay in the ancient lands of their birth 
but too often make the diffucult decision to leave as a result of harrassment or 
violent threats by extremists,” said Dolan. 
Lombardi said Benedict will restate his “message of dialogue and respect for 
all believers of different religions” during his visit. 
The attacks against U.S. diplomatic compounds in Libya and Egypt were 
allegedly sparked by an American-produced film that satirizes Islam and the 
prophet Muhammad. 
In his statement, Lombardi also warned against the “tragic results” of 
“unjustified offense and provocations against the sensibilities of Muslim 
believers.” He said such provocations have the effect of nourishing “tension and 
hatred, unleashing unacceptable violence.” 
Lombardi stressed that “profound respect for the beliefs, texts, outstanding 
figures and symbols” of different religions is an “essential precondition for 
the peaceful coexistence of peoples.” 
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