Thousands Greet Pope as he Meets Country's Top Political, Religious Leaders
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Thousands of Lebanese greeted on Saturday Pope Benedict XVI as he headed on his Popemobile to Baabda palace where he met with the country's top political and Muslim religious leaders.
Lebanese and Vatican flags fluttered, and there was a festive atmosphere on the streets as the faithful greeted him from Sayyad roundabout all the way to the presidential palace.
President Michel Suleiman urged the Lebanese in a statement he issued on Friday to line the streets leading to the palace.
The pope met Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.
He also held meetings with the country's religious leaders, cabinet members and the diplomatic corps.
On Friday, the pontiff appealed to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike to "root out" religious fundamentalism.
The pope, who is in Lebanon on a three-day visit, has also told the Christian minority in the Middle East not to fear for its future.
His exhortations were made public as he put his signature to recommendations emerging from a synod of bishops he convened two years ago to examine the future of the Christian minority in the region and its relations with Islam and Judaism.
15 September 2012, 15:43
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hahaha! you cannot deny that the church is a huge business... one said that it s a only a sect but that succeeded well!
15 September 2012, 17:04
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of course the1phoenix! all religions are there to manipulate people and make them sheep... look around and see!
be it christians or muslims! as long as one wants to be proselyte and make his religion known by everyone as a sign of power, he s extremist!
you are the first one with that answer of yours treating me of satan!
the pope represents the catholics only! not the christians in general... so he is the CEO of the catholic business that made its wealth through all the horrors of history we know...he is not God or whatever just a leader in front of which you seem to kneel as if he were your master...
treat me as a wahabbite if it makes you feel better but for me they are just a bunch of extremists too!
religion is the opium of the people, and in lebanon there are a lot of drug addicted unfortunately!
15 September 2012, 18:02
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the1phoenix: i have nothing against the pope and certainly not follow satan...
but the church in the whole is just like any other religions: clinging to their power (see in lebanon) and manipulating people s minds...
no one needs a middleman to praise God! the one who truly believes in God doesn t need all those ceremonies and rituals that are just there to alienate people and make them sheep...
when i see the church praise peace i cannot help thinking of the role of the church during WW2 as an example; and there are many examples of the hypocrisy of this institution always siding with the one who has the most power...
let him praise peace it won t harm and he is right but i don t need him to apply that in my corner...
(oh BTW: just look how some christians in lebanon just want to fight some muslims and tell me if after this visit they will apply his teachings! i seriously doubt it!)
15 September 2012, 16:56
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each big endeavour has a financial arm. cant do without that. Cant have an organization with a billion followers and not be able to deal with money... The important is that god is above money
15 September 2012, 21:30
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Wow.. The hatred you have, Sidon, . I am sorry for you. I pray you will experience peace in your heart.
