| Bishop Michel Aoun Calls for Large Participation from the Lebanese community in welcoming the Pope, especially... |
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Bishop Michel Aoun Calls for Large Participation from the Lebanese community in welcoming the Pope, especially at the Mass he will celebrate in Beirut
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: Bishop Michel Aoun is the official ecclesiastical coordinator for Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lebanon and has played a pivotal role in its preparation and in calling for participation.
*His Role in the Visit:
• Bishop Michel Aoun serves as President of the Executive Committee of the Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon, in addition to being the Maronite Bishop of Jbeil.
• He was appointed ecclesiastical coordinator for the papal visit, making him primarily responsible for organizing the spiritual and logistical aspects of the visit.
• He called for a large participation from the Lebanese community in welcoming the Pope, especially at the Mass he will preside over in Beirut.
*✝Highlights of the Visit He Oversaw:
• Visit to the Shrine of Saint Charbel, which Bishop Aoun described as “Lebanon’s universal spiritual symbol,” and he confirmed that the Vatican immediately welcomed this suggestion.
• Visit to Deir al-Salib Hospital, where he noted the Pope's desire to meet with the patients and emphasize the humanitarian dimension of the visit.
* His statements:
• He said that choosing Lebanon as the first foreign destination for Pope Leo XIV carries great spiritual and political significance, and reflects Lebanon's importance to the Church.
• He stressed that this visit represents a historic moment that reaffirms Lebanon's spiritual and cultural role in the region. |
