Lebanon : An apostolic nuncio visits Christians on the border with Israel

With the engagement of the Apostolic Nuncio in Lebanon, material and spiritual support came to Christian villages in the border with Israel.

On the 5th Sunday of Lent, Archbishop Paolo Borgia spent in an area sharpened by Israeli troops. During the visit, he was bombed by a bridge that had previously been driven by a convoy protected by soldiers from UN peacekeeping forces UNIFIL, cutting off his return route.

The bridge in Qasiyeh was a key communication hub connecting the south of Lebanon to the capital city of Beirut. Its demolition implies crucial difficulties in carrying humanitarian aid and evacuation of the war-tired population.

The Apostolic Nuncio visited Tyr. Last week Tel Aviv ordered an evacuation of over a 100 1000 residents of the city and surrounding areas all the way to the Zahrani River. Only 2 Christian districts in the historical center were not covered by this injunction. So many Muslims, mostly Shiite, from endangered areas and surrounding villages, took refuge there. All were accepted in private homes of the faithful, monasteries and another church facilities. During the visit of the Apostolic Nuncio, Israeli aircraft continued to fly over Tyre, and further explosions and rising smoke poles were heard in the distance.

“This is war. And the biggest consequences are for those who didn't want it. Just look at the faces of children, women, men: they are terrified. This is war," said Archbishop Borgia, gathering with border residents.To each individual – evacuated and to those who accepted them – the nuncio wanted to give a feeling of his closeness, Pope Leon, to whom this country remained in its heart after a fresh journey – and the full Church. The pope's typical took part in the Sunday Mass held by Melchit Archbishop Georges Iskander.