Mikati invites pope to visit Lebanon during Vatican audience

Lebanon’s prime minister has invited Pope Benedict XVI to visit his country, which the Vatican sees as an important symbol of religious coexistence in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati met with Benedict for about 20 minutes Monday during an overnight visit to Rome that also included talks with (more…)

Pope Benedict accepts Maronite Patriarch Sfeir’s resignation

Pope Benedict XVI accepted Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir’s resignation, according to the Secretariat of the Maronite Patriarchate in a statement issued Saturday. Benedict sent a letter to Sfeir accepting the latter’s resignation of the spiritual head of Lebanon’s Maronites, the largest Catholic church in the Middle East.

“I accept your free resignation, [and] I am sure that you will remain with the Maronite Church with your prayers,” the Pope told Sfeir in the letter. (more…)

Vatican: Lebanon stands as a message of freedom for the world

Lebanon “because of the presence of various Christian and Muslim communities there, stands as a message of freedom and respectful coexistence, not only for the region but for the whole world. In this context, it is increasingly necessary to promote collaboration and dialogue between religious confessions”.

Echoing the words of John Paul II, the opening line of the Vatican communiqué on Thursday morning’s meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, immediately underscores the regional importance of the Land of the Cedars. (more…)

Saint Maroun statue placed at Vatican

The statue of Saint Maroun was unveiled at Saint Peter’s square at the Vatican on Wednesday during a ceremony attended by President Michel Suleiman, Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and Pope Benedict XVI. The statue of St. Maroun is the 12th and last statue.

A large number of Lebanese MPs, officials and former lawmakers also attended the event which was followed by a mass held by Sfeir. (more…)

Sfeir: Lebanon only needs one army, not two

Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir traveled to to Cyprus on Thursday to meet with the Lebanese community and welcome Pope Benedict XVI in Nicosia. The Christian spiritual leader made a clear reference to Hezbollah in his departing statement, “We support one regular army and it is unacceptable to have two armies in one country.” (more…)

Pope praises Christian, Druze, Muslim coexistence in Lebanon

Pope Benedict XVI in a meeting Saturday with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, praised the peaceful coexistence in Lebanon between various religious communities, including Druze, Christians and Muslims.
Hope was expressed “that the country (Lebanon), through the exemplary coexistence of the various religious communities … may continue to be a ‘message’ for the region of the Middle East and for the whole world,” the Vatican said in a statement issued after the morning talks.
Benedict received Hariri at the Vatican Apostolic Palace where, “in an atmosphere of great cordiality,” their talks focused on Lebanon and the broader situation in the Middle East, the Vatican statement said. DPA

Photo by Dalati & Nohra

Hariri met Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI at  the Vatican to discuss the situations in Lebanon and the Middle East.

Hariri then also  held a meeting with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Monsignor Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See.

Hariri arrived in Rome Friday afternoon accompanied by his wife Lara, his children ( Hussam,  Lulwa and Abdul Aziz ), and his advisers . The delegation was joined by Lebanese Ambassador to the Vatican George Khoury.

Prior to his departure to Rome Hariri said: “Meeting with the pope has great significance because Lebanon is  the homeland of major Christian sects that we want to preserve.”

“We want to safeguard them and we want them to remain deep-rooted in Lebanon so that Lebanon remains a global exemplar of coexistence,” he added.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri met Saturday with Pope Benedict XVI . His wife Lara, and children  Hussam,  Lulwa and Abdul Aziz accompanied him

Pope condemns attacks against Copts in Egypt

Pope Benedict XVI denounced Sunday the attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt which left seven people dead.
Cardinal Walter Kaspar, chairman of the Pontifical Council for Unity Among Christians wrote and told the Coptic Church in Egypt :
“Every time we Christians suffer unjustly, it represents a wound to the Body of Christ whom we all believe in. We share with you this sadness and pray with you for reconciliation, peace and justice,”

The woman who attacked the Pope is a Swiss-Italian

The woman who assaulted Pope Benedict XVI was identified as Susanna Maiolo, 25, a Swiss-Italian national.
Vatican spokesman, Rev Federico Lombardi, said Miss Maiolo had psychiatric problems and was taken to a clinic for treatment.
She was also involved in a similar incident at last year’s midnight mass in which she rushed at the Pope but was stopped by a security guard before she reached him. Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Pope knocked down by woman during Christmas mass

A woman assailed Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday, yanking him to the floor as he entered St Peter’s Basilica to celebrate Christmas Eve mass.
Video footage showed the woman, wearing a red sweatshirt, leaping over a security barricade and rushing at the 82-year-old pope as he began leading the traditional procession to the vast basilica’s altar bearing a gold cross.
As a security guard tried to overpower her, the woman succeeded in grabbing Benedict’s vestments near the neck and yanking him down, according to video footage taken by a pilgrim broadcast on Sky News.
Several others fell over in the melee.
Prominent French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, 87, broke a leg in the incident though he was “several metres (yards)” from the pope, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told AFP, adding that the prelate was rushed to hospital.
Benedict was back on his feet within moments and went on to celebrate the mass with apparent calm and confidence. AFP