The Pope Leo XVI invited this Sunday for leaders of different religions to work for peace and for young people to “change the course of history”, in the various meetings he had during his second day of visit to Lebanon, where concern is growing about the situation in the south of the country due to the bombings of Israel despite the truce.
A prudent pope, who has not cited in detail any of the conflicts in the Middle East, focused his speeches above all on conveying the message that peace is possible, both in the meetings he held with the Catholic community of Lebanon, and in the interreligious meeting with Christians and Muslims.
To find hope united
“Sometimes, humanity looks at the Middle East with unease and discouragement, in the face of such complex and prolonged conflicts. However, in the midst of these struggles, hope and encouragement can be found when we focus on what unites us: our common humanity and our belief in a God of love and mercy, in an era in which coexistence may seem a distant dream,” said the Pope before the rest of the religious leaders.
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Meanwhile, they, with whom he shared the stage of the transparent tent in Martyrs’ Square in Beirut, told the pontiff about the fragile situation in the Land of the Cedars.
Mar Ignazio Efraim II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the world, spoke of “a fierce Israeli enemy, which is thus accelerating the forced migration of many.”
The visit of León XIV arrives, he added, “at a delicate moment in the history of this region, in which we are witnessing great turbulences and radical transformations that we hope can generate stability, justice and peace for our region, which has not known for a long time”.
The American pontiff highlighted in his speech that “in an era in which coexistence may seem a distant dream, the Lebanese people, even embracing different religions, stand as a powerful reminder that fear, distrust, and prejudice do not have the last word, and that unity, reconciliation, and peace are possible”.
Build a better world
The answer to EFE from the young people gathered in Bkerke, near Beirut, in front of the Maronite patriarchate, for the meeting with the Pope, when asked what they expect from this visit of the Pope is “peace”.
“What I hope for is peace for the country, my wish is a better country and a better future for the youth,” explains a young woman from one of the scout groups in Beirut. Beside her, two other companions repeat: “Peace, peace, this is the only thing we want.”
“We live in a country without stability, neither in security nor in the economy. Every day we carry the fear of the unknown, of danger, of a war that could break out at any moment, without knowing where or when,” explained a young man to the Pope, asking for answers in a clear reference to the Israeli bombings in southern Lebanon despite the truce signed exactly a year ago.
And to the 15,000 Lebanese youths who gathered in this place, the Pope encouraged them to “change the course of history” in a world “torn by wars and disfigured by social injustices”.
“Dear young people, you may regret having inherited a world torn apart by wars and disfigured by social injustices. And yet, in you resides a hope, a gift, that seems to escape us adults. You have time. You have more time to dream, organize, and do good. You are the present and the future is already being built in your hands!” the pontiff told them.
“Build a world that is better than the one you have found!. You, young people, are more direct in weaving relationships with others, even those different because of their cultural or religious background,” he added.
The Pope will visit tomorrow the zero zone of the August explosion in the port of Beirut, another of the open wounds in Lebanon, and will celebrate mass on the promenade before returning to Rome and concluding his first international trip.
