Vatican spokesman optimistic about Arab world’s ‘possible springtime’
February 28, 2011
Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office, is expressing optimism about the “possible springtime” taking place in the Arab world.
“Thanks to the links with emigration, many have a positive idea of the European world, of human rights, of democracy and of liberty,” he said. “If, close to us, on the southern shore of the now very narrow sea that is the Mediterranean, there are innumerable young people desirous of a human growth in greater liberty, we cannot fail to do everything that is within our means to engage without fear in positive dialogue with them, learning mutually our respective languages.”
Father Lombardi acknowledged that “the new possibilities are connected also with new risks” and rued the violence in Libya. “The violence that accompanies the resistance to the spread of the movement of transformation of the political situation in Arab countries-- particularly in Libya-- is, of course, a source of very great grief for the suffering of the victims and populations.”
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Posted by: FredC -
Mar. 03, 2011 12:22 PM ET USA
Catholicism offers the hope that all seek. Will our bishops seize the opportunity that the youthful protestors want?
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Posted by: -
Mar. 01, 2011 4:56 PM ET USA
Jesus taught us to "turn the other cheek", but he also rather violently turned over tables to change how people were acting, when there actions were not honoring God. Maybe now is the time for Libya to turn the tables. I just pray this is not the start of what the Blessed Virgin Mary foretold at Fatima.
