Sunday, June 17, 2012

Instability in Lebanon casts shadows over Pope’s potential visit to the country

Benedict XVI’s plan to visit Lebanon this coming autumn looks certain. 

But there are growing concerns about this in the Vatican. 

There are three months to go before what should be a historic moment in Lebanese and Holy See relations. But the visit has not yet been announced.

It could be later on, but the reluctance to make this trip - which would be hugely significant for Christian communities in the Middle East – official, is proof of a desire to tread carefully in a region where the situation appears increasingly volatile. 

In the Vatican Secretariat of State, developments in the Syrian civil war – which is fuelled by arms and armed jihadists from the outside, including Lebanon – are carefully monitored on a daily basis.
 
A number of points are being examined by the diplomats in cassocks. The first and most obvious is the exportation of the Syrian war to northern Lebanon. Tarablus (Tripoli) has been the scene of bloody clashes for weeks now, with medium-calibre weapons being used among Islamic factions taking orders from different parties. 

 “These incidents are a clear sign that Lebanon could explode at any moment,” Ghassan al-Azzi, Professor of political science at the Lebanese University stated. 

“The country, which is divided between supporters and opponents of Syria, has fallen hostage to the crisis.” 

In Tarablus, where there is a strong Alawi presence, this section of Islam, from which Damascus’ leadership originates, is clashing with Sunni supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, the main opposition force. 

It should be noted that the Lebanese army is holding back and not intervening and this is fuelling uncertainty and fear.
 
There are also other points that concern Vatican diplomats. In recent days, the UN envoy to Lebanon, Bashar Jaafari claimed certain areas of the country “incubated” terrorist elements of Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. 

The arms trafficking between the two countries has increased considerably.
 
The anti-Christian and fundamentalist character of the opposition war is another cause for concern. Echoes of the slogan “Christians to Beirut, Alawis to the coffin” are being heard more and more frequently. 

News has been reaching the Vatican Loggia about Islamic terrorists and combatants who are affiliated to Al-Qaeda and other terrorist sub-groups who call themselves “Takfiri” meeting in Syria. 

Takfiris are Muslims who consider moderate Muslims, Christians and members of other religions to be infidels (Kafir) and therefore legitimate targets.