Politicians and clerics call Pope Francis: He was a messenger of peace and justice

Pope Francis, who passed away today, Monday, mourned at the age of 88.

The Minister of Culture, Ghassan Salama, wrote through the “Ax” platform, saying: “The deep sadness over the departure of Pope Francis. How did not he practiced asceticism in his daily life, and returned the concept of social justice to the heart of the church’s interests, and opened a depth dialogue with the Muslims, and his recent words were an invitation to stop the war on Gaza?”

As for the Minister of Information, attorney Paul Morcos, Pope Francis, he said in a statement: “The departure of Pope Francis, the humble shepherd and the voice of the global conscience, is a huge loss not only for the Catholic Church, but also for all humanity, in which she saw a messenger for peace, justice and mercy, and a brave advocate of human values ​​in a world in which the turmoil and division intensify.”

He added: “His Holiness the Pope was a friend of Lebanon, a lover of his people, and a permanent supporter of his cause in preserving his message in coexistence, and he has always raised his voice for his peace and stability. We in Lebanon, the country of the message, deposit him today with a lot of sadness, and we are inspired by his faith and human heritage, which strengthens our unity and hope for the future.”

He continued: “We extend our deepest condolences from the Catholic Church in Lebanon and the world, and from the Holy See, and from all the believers, hoping for his pure spirit eternal comfort, and for the message of His Holiness to remain a beacon of Hoda in the darkness of this time.”
He concluded: “Mercy for his holiness, and patience for everyone who loved him and walked on his path.”

On his level, President General Michel Suleiman said in a statement today: “We raise our prayers to God to recover the patriarch Al -Ra’i, who carried the flame of Lebanon’s neutrality coupled with a declaration of Baabda. That the martyrs of the army, who sacrificed their lives yesterday, live in Easter, in his spacious gardens, and inspire their patience and consolation.

Suleiman mourned Pope Francis and said: “He struggled for peace and stood wars. He stood with the weak and the poor always.

In turn, the head of the Lebanese Phalange Party, Sami Al -Jameel, said: “His Holiness Pope Francis, the man of peace, justice and humanity. We recall his supportive positions for Lebanon and his permanent prayers for his people.

For his part, the head of the “Lebanese Forces” party, Samir Geagea, mourned Pope Francis, saying: “And your patriarchal path remains a torch and resurrection for all generations in various corners of the earth.”

In addition, the Vice -President of the Supreme Shiite Islamic Council, Sheikh Ali Al -Khatib, attributed the Pope Francis, and said in a statement: “We received with great sadness and sorrow the news of the departure of Pope Francis, the Pope of the Vatican, who passed away this morning, and the day after the Easter. And we would like on this occasion to express in the name of the Supreme Shiite Islamic Council, and in our name personally, for the sincere condolences and sympathy to the followers of the Church. In Lebanon and the world, the Vatican and the papal embassy in Lebanon. Dhabi on the document “Humanitarian Brotherhood for World Peace and Certainly”.

He added: “Throughout his term, Pope Francis was keen to promote interfaith dialogue and spread a culture of tolerance and understanding between peoples. He also had a role in calling for promoting human rights and supporting the just Palestinian issue.”

He concluded: “On this painful occasion, the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council is inviting to continue this approach, enhance the culture of dialogue, and joint work for a world free of violence and injustice and support the issues of the oppressed peoples, on top of which is the issue of the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples in the face of brute Zionist aggression.”

In addition, the Minister of Industry, Duja Issa El -Khoury, said via “Ax”, calling on the Pope and said: “Let us reach peace … peace in the world and in the hearts of both.”

As for the Secretary -General of the “Future” Movement, Ahmed Al -Hariri, he said through “Ax”: “Pope Francis was a symbol of humility and openness, calling for dialogue and peace, and keen on Lebanon and strengthening his mission in one living.

In turn, the head of the Lebanese press, Joseph Al -Qusaifi, said in the departure of Pope Francis: “He was freed from the cross of the imams and left in the time of the Resurrection, participating in Christ, its glory and the world, its joy. And his condition. ”

He added: “He is the door of the poor, the simple, the marginalized, who is coming from Latin America carrying the concerns of the tormented man. He is present with him. ”

He continued: “He died without achieving this dream, but he instead of all of this with his prayers for the sake of Lebanon and peace in it, and his direct contacts to get him out of the fire in which he fell, and he was always biased to his sovereignty, independence, his national unity and the single living message between its sects.

He pointed out in a statement to “the human spirit that the late Pope lived and embracing the poor and its endeavor in order to prevail in the logic of justice, humanity and peace in the world and its stances calling for the endowment of wars and continuous violations against human rights, especially from the Israeli enemy and its continuous calls to stop the war on Gaza,” stressing that “these positions and these calls have an impact on the continuity of preserving their meanings and goals before Followers and all those who are keen on humanity and its destiny in light of the continuing wars and the escalation of the air between the poor and the rich worldwide.