Reaction Paper About Pope Benedict Xvi's Trip to Lebanon

Reaction Paper about Pope Benedict XVI's Trip to Lebanon

We all know that Lebanon is one of the countries found in the Middle East. Lebanon is famous for many reasons, including the religious matter, like it recognizes 17 different religions. Lebanon has the highest percentage of Christian popularity which is about 40% in the Middle East, proof that Christians have strong bonds to their own culture and belief, for Lebanon is surrounded with many religions.

The issue of Pope Benedict XVI, originally named as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, about his three-day voyage to Lebanon shocked many people in and out of the country. The pope's aim is to present that he is against fundamentalism. But what I concerned about is that can we assure that Pope Benedict XVI's decision is wise to just take off to Lebanon to discuss some sort of things? Because we all know that Lebanon is one of the countries in the Middle East which is prone to disturbances, battles between the politics and the religion, warfare between different countries, etc.

Well we cannot say that his trip will be purely successful. There is a risk. I think the reason is not that he wants to fix his own issue or problem against him, but we don't know if there's someone against his plan to root out fundamentalism. Because imagine, he is handling an issue about the Christians and other party. But I believe in him, because he didn't hesitate and hence, he accepted and didn't change his mind.

His words are some of the proofs that he wants to help Christians in Lebanon with an insecure situation. The government of Lebanon may inform him that if something happen, they cannot assure that they can maintain the situation. But gladly the statement of the Lebanese government didn't affect the pope's decision, which is good for everyone, especially the Christians in Lebanon.

Lebanon is used to having conflicts. Like the conflict between Sunni and Shia. What I am thinking about is that if there is a possible danger to spill out the opposition between Lebanon and Syria while he's there. Well, it could happen for the issue is part of Lebanon's, even if the issue is not really in Lebanon but in Syria.

Apostolic exhortation is a type of communication from the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church but one thing about this exhortation is that it just encourages people to do and take an action to a particular situation in which people can help the Pope to carry out the problem, like what Pope Benedict XVI aims.

Do we think that this apostolic exhortation carries a benefit to the Christian community or even in other party? Is it more relevant? First of all, let's talk about the mission. What is the mission? Are we a part of this mission? Are we concern about this? I think the plan of other Christians to leave the country is not the solution. Let's just think of the warfare between other countries. Let's prefer to other countries which is prone to danger, like Iraq. They need much attention to health and security. But the issue in Lebanon is not the solution to escape the problem. They must face it. Or can I say that, we must face it.

Let's just think of the positive side and be optimistic about the situation. We have our mission to carry out and we must face it, we must fight for it. It's a mission within the Muslim's Gospel and living it in such a way. We have rights in terms of our own religious beliefs. We must respect it. Like this situation, imagine, we have freedom to learn our own religious beliefs, but what about them?

They must also learn their own religious beliefs like what other Christian community do. Let's just say that Muslims are convinced with their faith in their God. And because of the powerful faith to their God, they think Christians must also learn their holy bible, Koran / Quran. I think we only could say something to Muslims that can be passed to both their and our culture.

The pope's trip is to Lebanon, but I think it's for the whole Middle East. Every country of the Middle East is probably involved in the situation. He chosen Lebanon for it occupies more Christian minority, for it has 40% popularity of Christians, and also for Muslims are open towards the questions.

We are fighting in a Muslim world for more independence of conscience. But aside from the Christians who are doing this for their own, they are doing this for the Muslims also.

Arab spring is a revolutionary wave of protests, which is they believed that the number of extremists or Salafists are increasing. Some are favor for this idea, but I don't think so. The Arab people, for me, want change. They want change, not in the religion, but for the rights to fight for their religion, to have faith in their own religion, to root out fundamentalism, against the extremism.

Christians must not just look forward to the next two or more years. They or we must take an action. As the period of time goes by, the more we want to achieve liberty, freedom, and justice, between Muslims and non-Muslims. I think the Arab spring can be a good thing to a long run. I think we must understand more the Muslims and respect that they have also their own religion. I'm not so happy in this situation that we, Christians, do not organize ourselves in a good way. We don't want to be placed in a dictatorial system, they are not worse like what we are now thinking. Let's give them chance to grab the opportunity to serve for their own God.

Muslims, I think, want to help the others. If they do want to help the others, then why not? Let's encourage them. Let's accept them in the community. For I believe that there is only one God in our whole entire nation, God will keep us safe and secure by his own will. God has plans to fix this kind of issue.

Majority is just confirming that the opinion of a particular party is stronger than the other one. Majority doesn't mean that the party which occupies the majority should decide alone. No. All should work together. All should cope and learn the things that the other person cannot see and understand. Listen to each other. For I believe that listening can be the aid of a better communication or sociability. Let us just refer them into love. Understanding is one of the compositions of love. Why will you call it love if you do not understand some kind of situation? If you know how to listen, you also know how to understand things. If you know how to understand, you know how to take it into your heart, am I right?

But the question is we can be optimistic for the Pope's trip to Lebanon, but how we will react?