IQNA – The vice president of Lebanon’s Shias Supreme Council expressed hope that the Pope’s visit to the country will start a new phase of national unity, peace, and an end to warmongering in Lebanon.
Referring to the upcoming visit to Lebanon by Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the world’s Catholics, Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib emphasized that this visit is taking place at the most sensitive political and security time in the country and has a special meaning for all Lebanese, especially the people who have been exposed to the aggression of the Zionist regime.
He said this visit has a clear message for all Lebanese, especially for the Shias, who have suffered the most from the aggression of the Israeli regime.
This presence could be a turning point in national unity and bring the Lebanese together in these difficult times to emphasize common values, he stated.
Al-Khatib sai dthe Pope’s message is a message of peace, coexistence and preserving common life, and this message should be used to silence the voices of division and sedition. “Those who beat the drum of discord and division should listen to this message.”
He also referred to the Vatican’s recent position on the Palestinian issue and said, “This position is a positive development and we hope it will be strengthened more than before, because Lebanon’s responsibility to support the rights of the Palestinian people is a moral and national responsibility.”
He further warned about the sensitivity of the current situation and emphasized that Lebanon is the target of a project that threatens coexistence, unity and the country’s unique sectarian model.
“The differences in Lebanon are political, not religious, and religious issues should not be exploited for political gains,” he underlined.
Recalling the words of Imam Musa Sadr, he said clans in Lebanon are a blessing, not a curse, and common religious and human values can unite the Lebanese against threats.
Sheikh Al-Khatib continued to emphasize that there is no conflict between resistance and peace, but rather resistance is the guardian of peace and the security of the people, and is considered the guarantor of Lebanon’s honor and dignity against aggression.
Referring to the expansionist nature of the Zionist regime, he said that the threat of this regime is not only aimed at Lebanon or Palestine, but also at the entire region and human values. “For this reason, a unified and national position is necessary to confront it.”
The Pope is going to visit Lebanon over the weekend. He is reportedly set to meet civil and religious authorities, visit mosques and ancient churches, pray at Beirut’s port in memory of the victims of the 2020 explosion, and hold a private meeting with President Joseph Aoun.
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