The POPE was in Lebanon (14/09/12 - 16/09/12)

And of course we went to see him! We joined the Pope on Saturday, when he had a meeting with the Christian youth gathered on the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate. It started at 6 pm but we arrived already 6 hours earlier to have nice seats close to the pope. On arrival everybody received a little bag with water, sweets, a YOUCAT and the New Testament. Sadly both books were written in Arabic. But we have a YOUCAT and many bibles in our apartment anyways. Until the pope arrived we spend our time listening to Arabic music, which was played very noisy and switching our position from sleeping to sitting - to standing on our white plastic chairs and partying hard with all the Lebanese who were creating a great atmosphere. The atmosphere got tense and tense the closer the arrival of the pope came. Finally HE was there. We were able to glance at him a few times when he drove slowly with his popemobil through the crowd. I think we can claim we got as close to him as 5 meters!

Regarding all aspects of information/speech given from the pope and the other announcers - a few of CARAVAN did not understand a word, because we barely know French or Arabic. But as those of us were informed later on, his main message was that "it is vital that the Middle East understands that Islam and Christianity can live side by side without hatred, with respect for the beliefs of each person.” He called Christians and Muslims to a "revolution of love". After he finished his speeches everybody was cheering, music started, people were dancing on their chairs. Shortly before He left there was a huge firework out of the sudden, not to be expected at all.

The music and dancing continued for a while after He left. Hymns were sung to Benedict XVI. We went home and had the feeling, that we just had a huge, very much enjoyable party with our pope.

The next morning (Sunday) we were supposed to celebrate Holy Mass with the pope, every one of us taking care of one handicapped. We got up at 5:45 am in order to join our guests in the bus already. Mass started with thousands of people at 10 am at Beirut City Centre Waterfront, a huge open area. There we met the Lebanese youth of the Order of Malta, 24 people in total, who were in company with us every single person taking care of one disabled. We gave our guests shelter from the sun, supplied them with food and water and cheered them up.

The pope appealed for peace in the Middle East, for "silencing of weapons" and "cessation of all violence".

The mass ended at noon and we were all sad to leave this joyful place and our guests.

by Julius