"The very serious attack organized against the United States diplomatic mission in Libya, which led to the death of the ambassador and of other functionaries, calls for the firmest possible condemnation on the part of the Holy See," said the Pope in a press release from the Vatican Information Service.
"Nothing, in fact, can justify the activity of terrorist organizations and homicidal violence. Along with our sadness, mourning and prayers for the victims, we again express the hope that, despite this latest tragedy, the international community may discover the most favourable ways to continue its commitment in favor of peace in Libya and the entire Middle East."
The statement comes a day before the pope travels to Lebanon, which marks his first venture into the Middle East since the "Arab Spring" uprising of last winter, a trip he intends to use to shore up the region's embattled Christian minorities.
Officially, the trip will be used to hand over "Ecclesia in Medio Oriente," the final document of a meeting of Middle East bishops that took place at the Vatican in 2010.
But rising tensions in the area make this trip to the Middle East’s largest Christian nation unusually risky.
“There’s never been a (papal) trip in such a dramatic situation,” the Rev. Paolo Dall’Oglio, a Catholic priest recently expelled from Syria told the Religion News Service (RNS).
Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, acknowledged the risks involved in making a trip at such an explosive time, calling it “an act of great courage” for the pope.
However, Lebanese authorities have reassured the Vatican that there will be tight security throughout the three day visit which they are hoping will highlight Lebanon's example of Christiam-Muslim cooperation. Lebanese political and religious groups are warmly welcoming the pope to their country, including Hezbollah, the Islamist party and terrorist organization. Hezbollah’s leader, Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, called the pope’s visit “historic.”
Najib Mikati, the head of the Hezbollah-backed Lebanese government, even declared Sept. 15, the central day of Benedict’s visit, a national holiday, RNS reports.
Arriving so soon after the murderous riots of the last few days will make his prayerful reassurances to the region's Christians particularly significant.
"I exhort all Christians of the Middle East, both those born there and the newly arrived, to be builders of peace and architects of reconciliation," he said after his Angelus address on Sept. 12. "Let us pray to God that He may fortify the faith of Christians in Lebanon and the Middle East, and fill them with hope. I thank God for their presence and call upon the entire Church to show solidarity, that they may continue to bear witness to Christ in those blessed lands, seeking communion in unity. I thank God for all the individuals and institutions who, in many ways, help them to do so."
He continued: "The history of the Middle East teaches us the important and sometimes primordial role. played by the various Christian communities in inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue Let us ask God to give that region of the world its longed-for peace, and respect for legitimate differences. May God bless Lebanon and the Middle East. May God bless you".
He proclaimed that the mission of his apostolic voyage to Lebanon, "comes under the sign of peace” and said that in spite of the “dramatic situation” of a region torn by “incessant conflict,” people “shouldn’t resign themselves to violence or worsening tensions.”
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