"I have come to Lebanon as a pilgrim of
peace, as a friend of God and as a friend of men ": Benedict XVI, in his
first speech after his arrival, immediately states the reason for his
presence in the Land of the Cedars , as a witness of peace. He repeats
the greeting of Christ twice, "Salàmi ō-tīkum " (My peace I give to you)
", once referring to Lebanon, once to the entire Middle East:" 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. To
them Christ says: " Salàmi ō-tīkum. '"
The papal plane landed at
Rafic Hariri airport at 13:45. As he alighted from the plane, the
pontiff was welcomed by President Michel Sleiman and his wife, by the
Shiite Nabih Berri, speaker of parliament, and the Sunni Naguib Miqati,
premier. Patriarch Bechara Boutros Raï and many Orthodox and Muslim
leaders were also present, as well as groups of young people at a
discreet distance.
President Sleiman, in his welcome address
recalled the greatness of Lebanon, the contribution of Christians to the
culture of the Middle East, the tragedy of war and the Palestinian
refugees who invaded the small state in the 1970s. Benedict XVI did not
mention any political issues, but had careful words regarding the human
drama of the population of the region, " 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 pope had been invited
several times to go to Lebanon. The president had invited him in 2008
and 2011, when a large statue of Saint Maron was blessed at the Vatican,
which "reminds me - he said - of what you live and endure."
In
addition to the response to this invitation, the Pope adds another
reason for his coming, "the important ecclesial event of 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 thanks all the bishops for their presence, "as
well as to those who have travelled to pray with me and to receive this
document from the hands of the Pope himself". In this regard it should
be noted none of the Syrian bishops of Aleppo are present as they are
unable to travel because of the war that has inflamed the country for
more than 16 months.
The Apostolic Exhortation, although destined
to the whole world, is "a roadmap for the years to come" for the
Christians of the Middle East. It is intended to help Christians mature
in their "communion and mission" within Middle Eastern societies.
Benedict
XVI seems to suggest the Lebanese model as an example of community and
social engagement: " 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".
For
the pope, the foundation of a harmonious coexistence is based on the
religious dimension of life, personal and social level, without the
distortions of secularism exaggerated in the West. "I have also come -
said the pope - 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".
No mention was
made of ongoing tensions provoked by an anti-Islamic film made by a
mysterious American Jew, nor ensuing violence. But in emphasizing the
"presence of God" and the " welcoming regard " and "good will toward
each other," the pope has shown a possible path forward to overcoming
the conflict of civilizations that many fear and foment.