The Popemobile in the midst of throngs of cheering faithful. Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012 (The Daily Star/Mohamad Azakir

“We pray to the Virgin Mary to help all the peoples of the region, especially the Syrian people,” the pope said at the end of the Mass, which serves as the culmination of his three-day historic visit to Lebanon.

“You know the problems that beset the region. There is a tremendous amount of pain … Why so much death? I call on the international community and Arab countries to propose solutions which respect human rights,” he added.

His comments were made to several Christian religious figures following the Mass, which a Vatican spokesman estimated at more than 350,000.

“I pray in particular that the Lord will grant to this region of the Middle East servants of peace and reconciliation, so that all people can live in peace and with dignity,” the pope told worshippers.

“The vocation of the Church and of each Christian is to serve others, as the Lord Himself did, freely and impartially,” said Benedict, who was wearing green vestments.

“Consequently, in a world where violence constantly leaves behind its grim trail of death and destruction, to serve justice and peace is urgently necessary for building a fraternal society, for building fellowship.”

He called on Christians to “cooperate with all people of goodwill” to strive for peace.

“This is an essential testimony which Christians must render here, in cooperation with all people of goodwill. I appeal to all of you to be peacemakers, wherever you find yourselves.”

Thirty men and women drawn from civil society and selected beforehand were allowed to approach the pope and receive Holy Communion.

Lebanese Army troops patrolled the streets of Downtown Beirut in preparation for the pope’s arrival. Soldiers in Armored Personnel Carriers manned key intersections, with others setting up roadblocks.

A sea of faithful, wearing complimentary white caps and using fans to bat away the heat, packed the Waterfront near Downtown Beirut to take part in the Mass which began shortly after 10 a.m.

The pope’s motorcade departed Harissa, where the Vatican Embassy is located, at around 9 a.m.

People cheered Benedict as his bullet-proof, glass-encased Popemobile arrived at the Waterfront at 9:30 a.m.

Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Sep-16/188089-people-flock-to-beirut-for-mass-celebrated-by-pope.ashx#ixzz26hRXEFwE
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)