Pope Benedict XVI is in Lebanon and is urging peace during this trying time in the Middle East. He also says the import of weapons to Syria during the country’s civil war is a “grave sin.” Click below to read more.
Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Lebanon on Friday to urge peace at a time of great turmoil in the Middle East, saying the import of weapons to Syria during the country’s civil war is a “grave sin.”
The three-day visit comes at a time of turmoil in the region — the civil war in neighboring Syria and in the aftermath of a mob attack that killed several Americans in Libya, including the U.S. ambassador.
The pontiff was welcomed by top leaders including the Lebanese president, prime minister and parliament speaker as well as Christian and Muslim religious leaders. Cannons fired a 21-shots salute for the pope.
The pope told reporters on the plane that imports of weapons to Syria is a “grave sin.”
Syria’s rebels have appealed for weapons shipments to help them fight the regime.
The visit brings the pope to the nation with the largest percentage of Christians in the Mideast — nearly 40 percent of Lebanon’s 4 million people, with Maronite Catholics the largest sect. Lebanon is the only Arab country with a Christian head of state.
