More on Lebanon

From the Pope's general audience:

At the end of today's general audience, Benedict XVI mentioned the attack yesterday in Lebanon in which Pierre Gemayel, the country's industry minister, was assassinated.

"I firmly condemn this brutal attack," said Pope Benedict, "and give assurances of my prayers and my spiritual closeness to the family in mourning, and to the beloved Lebanese people. In the face of the dark forces that seek to destroy the country, I invite all Lebanese not to allow themselves to be overcome by hatred, but to reinforce national unity, justice and reconciliation, and to work together to build a future of peace. Finally, I invite leaders of the nations that have the fate of this region at heart to contribute to finding a global negotiated solution to the various situations of injustice that have existed for too many years."

Via Amy, AsiaNews reports that Cardinal Sfeir is performing the funeral:

The Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir will preside over the funeral at 1pm on Thursday, 22 November, in the Cathedral of St George in the heart of Beirut. He said he considers “the murder of Minister Gemayel as a new blow to much desired peace in the country after years of war” and he called attention to the necessity of keeping calm and not reacting violently, because Lebanon is no longer able to pay the price of violence. The patriarch finally appealed to the people’s conscience, that they may double efforts to stop this campaign of violence, expressing his solidarity with the family of Minister Gemayel. The religious ceremony for the murdered minister was desired by the Gemayel family as a “new act of obedience to God’s will.” After the funeral, the body will be taken to the minister’s village of origin in Bikfaya, near the tomb of his uncle Bashir, killed in 1982, his grandfather Pierre, founder of the Lebanese Phalange Party, and the daughter of President Bachir, young Maya, also killed 22 years ago by a car bomb.

Related links:

• Bush warns Syria, Iran after Lebanon killing
• Rage against Syria fuelled by minister's assassination