Pope Appeals for Lebanon Peace

Pope Benedict XVI expressed concern today over the escalating tensions in Lebanon, calling on its people to find a “president for all Lebanese” to end the months of infighting that have stalled elections. After his noontime blessing, the pontiff told the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square that he was troubled by the country’s newly routine clashes, the AP reports.

Benedict spoke out against those “who put their trust in the strength of weapons and the physical elimination of adversaries.” Last week, parliamentary efforts to elect a new president were delayed for the 14th time, Earth Times reports. The deadlock has resulted in Lebanon’s worst political crisis since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war, the AP notes. (More Pope Benedict XVI stories.)