Les Combes (AsiaNews) – The conflict under way in the Holy Land finds its origins in "objective situations of violations of law and justice. But neither terrorist acts nor reprisals" can ever be justified.

The Holy Land and Lebanon were preying on the mind of Benedict XVI today in Valle D'Aosta – where he has gone for some time of rest – as he called on "local Churches to offer special prayers for peace in the Holy Land and all the Middle East".

The escalation of clashes in Lebanon and the danger of further aggravation of the conflict are clearly worrying Benedict XVI and the Vatican, which is multiplying its efforts to urge the warring parties to reason and dialogue. Today, the Pope explicitly made concrete references to "objective situations of violations of law and justice" that call to mind the Territories, but also to acts expressly defined as "terrorist" and to "reprisals", both described as unjustifiable.

Benedict XVI told the crowd of around 10,000 people who went up to Les Combes to participate in the Sunday Angelus: "The news coming from the Holy Land in recent days gives cause for further, serious concern among all, especially because of the increased actions of war in Lebanon as well, and the many victims among the civilian population. At the core of this ruthless enmity, there are, alas, objective situations of violations of law and justice. But neither terrorist acts nor reprisals, especially when they have tragic consequences for the civilian population, can ever be justified. Taking such paths, as bitter experience has shown, does not lead to positive results."

The pope, who talked about the Holy Land after the recital of the Angelus, then recalled, as he had already done before the Marian prayer, that "today is dedicated to Our Lady of Mt Carmel, the mount of the Holy Land which, a few km from Lebanon, dominates the Israeli city of Haifa, also recently hit. Let us pray to Mary, Queen of Peace, that she may beseech God to grant the fundamental gift of harmony, leading political leaders back to the path of reason and to opening new opportunities of dialogue and understanding. In this perspective, I invite all local Churches to offer special prayers for peace in the Holy Land and all the Middle East."

On Friday, the pope went to visit a convent of the Carmelites not far from the small villa where he spending his holidays and where he prayed for the Holy Land. Today, after exalting the beauty of the mountains, saying they are a tribute to their Creator, the pope said that "by happy coincidence, this Sunday falls on 16 July, the day when the liturgy recalls the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. Carmel, the headland which rises above the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at the same level as Galilee, has many natural grottoes among its peaks, sought after by hermits. The most celebrated of these men of God was the great prophet Elijah, who in the IX century before Christ strenuously defended the purity of the faith in the one true God from contamination by idolatrous cults. Drawing inspiration from the figure of Elijah, the contemplative Order of the "Carmelites" emerged, the religious family that featured among its members great saints like Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Teresa of the Child Jesus and Teresa blessed by the Cross (Edith Stein). The Carmelites spread the devotion of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel among the Christian people, highlighting her as a model of prayer, contemplation and dedication to God".

The pope added: "Today I want to entrust all communities of contemplative life scattered around the world to the Queen of Mt Carmel, especially those of the Carmelite Order, including the monastery of Quart, not far from here. May Mary help each and every Christian meet God in the silence of prayer."