Pope appeals for peace at open-air mass in Beirut
17 Sep 2012 1:07 AM GMT
Pope Benedict XVI celebrated an open-air Mass on Sunday for tens of thousands of pilgrims from across the Middle East, saying Christians must do their part to end the ‘grim trail of death and destruction’ in the region.
‘I appeal to you all to be peacemakers,’ Benedict said.
Benedict spoke from an altar built on land reclaimed with debris from Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, pressing ahead with his call for peace and reconciliation between Christians and Muslims.
The Rev Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, said local organisers put the crowd at some 350,000 people. Benedict said that justice and peace are needed in building ‘a fraternal society, for building fellowship.’
The 85-year-old pope appeared to be holding up well in the Mediterranean heat. Helicopters flew overhead and soldiers set up roadblocks and patrolled streets in downtown Beirut.
The crowd cheered as Benedict arrived in his bullet-proof popemobile at the Mass site on the Beirut waterfront. Benedict has been appealing for tolerance and religious freedom. At a meeting with young people on Saturday evening, the pope said he admired the courage of Syrian youth and that he did not forget their suffering.
‘I appeal to you all to be peacemakers,’ Benedict said.
Benedict spoke from an altar built on land reclaimed with debris from Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, pressing ahead with his call for peace and reconciliation between Christians and Muslims.
The Rev Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, said local organisers put the crowd at some 350,000 people. Benedict said that justice and peace are needed in building ‘a fraternal society, for building fellowship.’
The 85-year-old pope appeared to be holding up well in the Mediterranean heat. Helicopters flew overhead and soldiers set up roadblocks and patrolled streets in downtown Beirut.
The crowd cheered as Benedict arrived in his bullet-proof popemobile at the Mass site on the Beirut waterfront. Benedict has been appealing for tolerance and religious freedom. At a meeting with young people on Saturday evening, the pope said he admired the courage of Syrian youth and that he did not forget their suffering.
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