Beirut (AsiaNews) The Pope arrived in Lebanon in May 1997 after his plans to visit the country had been postponed several times. He was welcomed enthusiastically by Christians and Muslims alike. One million people (one Lebanese in every three) met the Pontiff: young people at the Marian Shrine of Harissa on May 10; thousands at a mass celebrated in Beirut, one banner saying John Paul II, 'King and messenger of peace and prince of charity'.
During John Paul II's visit to Beirutthe first by a Pope on Lebanese soilpeople took advantage of the situation to stage a rally (banned since the end of the civil war) against Syrian and Israeli occupation.
In Lebanon's capital, the Pope signed the Post-Synod Apostolic Exhortation A New Hope for Lebanon which brought to a close the Synod of the Lebanese Church that had taken place in Rome in 1995.
In the document the Pope said that after the long civil war (1975 1991), "building Lebanon was now possible" if it was done with 'forgiveness' and in 'reconciliation'.
In this regard, the Pontiff appealed to both Christians and Muslims to work together in rebuilding a country which for a long time has been an example of peaceful coexistence.
John Paul II also urged the Lebanese Church to renew itself in order to reinvigorate its evangelising mission, calling for greater unity and less confessionalism, greater commitment to charity, education and information, greater witness in political life and protection of human rights.
The Pope invited Christians to put their resources at the disposal of the Universal Church, especially their Eastern traditions. (LF)