Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano (R) meets Saad Hariri, son of assassinated Lebanon's premier Rafik Hariri during a private meeting at the Vatican July 19, 2006. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Pool (VATICAN)
Posted on 07/20/2006 7:24:29 AM PDT by NYer
Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano (R) meets Saad Hariri, son of assassinated Lebanon's premier Rafik Hariri during a private meeting at the Vatican July 19, 2006. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano/Pool (VATICAN)
Lebanon turned Wednesday to the Vatican for help in pressing for a cease-fire in the Middle East, dispatching the son of assassinated premier Rafik Hariri to meet with the Holy See's secretary of state.
Vatican officials said Cardinal Angelo Sodano met Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian marjority in Lebanon's parliament whose father's assassination last year led to massive protests that drove Syria out of Lebanon.
Hariri was scheduled to meet Italian Premier Romano Prodi and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema on Thursday. Italy has been playing the role of what Prodi calls a "facilitator" in efforts to defuse the crisis.
The Vatican-affiliated news agency Asia News reported Wednesday that Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora had telephoned Sodano a day earlier to seek the Vatican's help in pressing for a cease-fire.
Pope Benedict XVI, during an appearance to pilgrims on Sunday during his vacation in the Italian Alps, lamented civilian deaths in the conflict and appealed to leaders to "return to the path of reason" and open dialogue.
Last week, Sodano said the Holy See condemned both terrorist attacks on one side of the conflict and the military retaliation of Israel against targets in Lebanon.
Lebanon has a large Maronite Catholic population.
Pope Benedict XVI today called for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East and the opening of humanitarian corridors so relief can reach the civilian population.
The latest Vatican appeal repeated the position that Lebanon’s integrity and sovereignty must be respected, that Israelis have the right to live in peace in their country and that the Palestinians have a right to their own state.
It said Benedict had set aside Sunday as a worldwide day of prayers for peace, hoping the prayers will bring a halt to the fighting, the immediate opening of corridors for relief supplies and the start of serious negotiations.
The Pope also appealed to relief organisations to provide assistance to those affected “by this ruthless conflict”.
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>>Pope Benedict XVI, during an appearance to pilgrims on Sunday during his vacation in the Italian Alps, lamented civilian deaths in the conflict and appealed to leaders to "return to the path of reason" and open dialogue.<<
You know, I'm not seeing "cease fire" in this statement.
I'm getting out the popcorn for those that read the title and not the article. Pope bashing will abound!
Isn't Sodano the one who was just replaced as SoS?
For that to happen Hezbollah needs to be degraded significantly. ....and for that to happen Israel needs to go up to Lebanon and get 'em.
Basically, the Pope is always going to call for peace, is always going to appeal to everyone to lay down their arms and talk.
The Pope is never going to advise or encourage people to engage in warfare.
A Church which is bound by Christ's teaching to "turn the other cheek" is not going to endorse violence of any kind.
**************
It won't and can't.
"Pope Benedict XVI today called for an immediate cease-fire"
Is this the same Pope who "joyously received" an official leather-bound copy of the Koran from an Imam with the cameras running, allowing the muzzies to interpret whatever they wished from the video and voice-overs in arabic?
flame away....but think about it.
No, it isn't, but thanks for maliciously poisoning the well.
think about it
Oh, I'm thinking aboutb the motives for your deceitfulness, all right.
I don't know but I think that was the last Pope.
Do you have a link?
No, I'm pretty sure it isn't. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was John Paul II.
All Popes look alike to some people.
John-Paul, not Benedict:
May 14, 1999 - John Paul II kisses the Koran (Qu'ran) at the Vatican.
http://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/A055rcKoran.htm
The Pope is not responsible for whatever the sick death-worshippers choose to do with their voice-overs.
I love your tagline....
Prairie - do you have the thread with direct quotes from the Pope?
He most certainly did not condemn Israel and I don't think he even asked for a ceasefire.
>>He most certainly did not condemn Israel and I don't think he even asked for a ceasefire.<<
Actually, I don't even see ceasefire in the article above!
Exactly.
Prairie linked me to an article a few days ago that directly quoted the Pope, not his spokesmen. And he condemned jihadists, not Israel.
It's becoming something of an urban legend that the Pope has condemned Israel.
The reason for the RCC position is thus:
1. There are vulnerable RC and other Christian minorities in Lebanon, and Hezbala has been known to specifically target/kidnap priests.
2. The muzzies tend to lump Christians and Jews together.
3. Accordingly, the pope swallows his pride, plays the dhminni in this circumstance, to keep said Christians from becoming targets.
4. The pope specifically does not give these pronouncements "ex cathedra" or otherwise officially, leaving RCs free to disagree with the pope in good conscience.
5. No doubt the informality of the statement was done because the pope doesn't believe what he is saying either, and students of the Vatican would notice this and realize he doesn't mean what he is forced to say to protect said communities.
Basically, it's a wink-wink, nudge-nudge, the muslims are too stupid to get this.
Much of Church history, and the writings of Church Doctors would disagree strenuously with this. There is, after all, such a thing as "just war." Whether or not Israel is conducting a just war is the issue. (Hezbolla and Hamas clearly are not.) A strong case can be made that Israel is.
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