03 July 2021 On Thursday , 1 July, Pope Francis was joined by religious leaders who came from the Middle East to the Vatican to participate in The Day of Prayer and Reflection for Lebanon. Lebanon, the Holy Father said, “is, and must remain, a project of peace.... a land of tolerance and pluralism, an oasis of fraternity where different religions and confessions meet, where different communities live together”. The following is the English text of the words the Pontiff shared with his fellow pastors. Dear Brothers and Sisters, We assembled today to pray and reflect, impelled by our deep concern for Lebanon — a country very close to my heart and which I wish to visit — as we see it plunged into a serious crisis. I am grateful to all the participants for having readily accepted the invitation and for their fraternal sharing. Sustained by the prayers of the Holy People of God, in facing this dark situation, we, as pastors, have sought together to be guided by God’s light. And in God’s light, we have seen our own lack of clarity: the mistakes we have made in failing to bear consistent witness to the Gospel, and above all the opportunities we have missed along the path to fraternity, reconciliation and full unity. For all this, we ask forgiveness, and with contrite hearts we pray: “Lord, have mercy” (