Pope calls for Mideast peace effort
Monday, June 18, 2007
POPE Benedict XVI yesterday called for greater peace efforts across the Middle East, using the occasion of a pilgrimage to Assisi to highlight the urgent need for greater dialogue.
As his predecessor the late John Paul II had done a decade earlier, the pontiff chose to launch his "urgent and sorrowful" appeal for peace in the Middle East, Iraq and Lebanon from the birthplace of Saint Francis.
"The populations of these countries have known for too long the horrors of combat, of terrorism, of blind violence, the illusion that force can resolve conflicts, the refusal to listen to the reasons of the other and to bring him justice," Pope Benedict said.
His comments came with no end in sight of years of bloodletting in Iraq and as violence between the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah engulfed the Gaza Strip.
"Only a responsible and sincere dialogue, supported by the full backing of the international community, can put an end to so much sadness and give life and dignity to individuals, to institutions and to peoples," the pope said.
The pontiff, speaking in Assisi where John Paul II launched in October 1986 the first day of prayer for world peace renewed the late pope's call, addressing all religions.
"From this town of peace, I want to pay respect to the representatives of other Christian denominations and to other religions," he said.
"I consider it my duty to launch an urgent and sorrowful appeal to put an end to all the armed conflicts which are bloodying the earth, to silence the weapons and for hate to yield everywhere to love, offence to forgiveness, and discord to union.
"Our thoughts go particularly to the Holy Land, so loved by Saint Francis, to Iraq, to Lebanon and to all the Middle East," he said.
In his homily, uttered during a celebratory mass at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Benedict invoked the "spirit of Assisi".
AFP
As his predecessor the late John Paul II had done a decade earlier, the pontiff chose to launch his "urgent and sorrowful" appeal for peace in the Middle East, Iraq and Lebanon from the birthplace of Saint Francis.
"The populations of these countries have known for too long the horrors of combat, of terrorism, of blind violence, the illusion that force can resolve conflicts, the refusal to listen to the reasons of the other and to bring him justice," Pope Benedict said.
His comments came with no end in sight of years of bloodletting in Iraq and as violence between the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah engulfed the Gaza Strip.
"Only a responsible and sincere dialogue, supported by the full backing of the international community, can put an end to so much sadness and give life and dignity to individuals, to institutions and to peoples," the pope said.
The pontiff, speaking in Assisi where John Paul II launched in October 1986 the first day of prayer for world peace renewed the late pope's call, addressing all religions.
"From this town of peace, I want to pay respect to the representatives of other Christian denominations and to other religions," he said.
"I consider it my duty to launch an urgent and sorrowful appeal to put an end to all the armed conflicts which are bloodying the earth, to silence the weapons and for hate to yield everywhere to love, offence to forgiveness, and discord to union.
"Our thoughts go particularly to the Holy Land, so loved by Saint Francis, to Iraq, to Lebanon and to all the Middle East," he said.
In his homily, uttered during a celebratory mass at the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Benedict invoked the "spirit of Assisi".
AFP
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