Lebanese leaders praise Shenouda

A delegation of Lebanese political and religious leaders headed to Egypt Tuesday to attend the funeral service of Coptic Pope Shenouda III which was held at Cairo’s Saint Mark’s Cathedral.Most Lebanese television stations halted their programming to broadcast the funeral. It was attended by thousands, including Deputy Prime Minister Samir Mokbel, representing President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker Nabih Berri; Metn MP Sami Gemayel representing Kataeb Party head Amin Gemayel; and Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri sent telegrams to the head of Egypt’s ruling Military Council, Hussein Tantawi, and Egypt’s Prime Minister, Kamal al-Ganzouri, offering his condolences. After their weekly meeting, Future Bloc MPs issued a statement in which they offered their condolencesto the Egyptian people and all Copts, describing Shenouda’s death as “a huge loss for all Muslim and Christian Arabs.” The statement said the bloc would send a delegation of MPs to Egypt to offer their condolences in person. Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt sent a telegram to the Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Tawfiq, offering condolences, and stating that Shenouda was a pillar of dialogue and moderation. He stressed that Shenouda’s passingwill leave a large void in both the religious and national arenas, stating that the late pope’s firm stances will continue to be respected. Aley MP Talal Arslan, the head of the Lebanese Democratic Party, issued a statement stating “Egypt and the Arab world are in need during these critical times of moderate and national figures such as Pope Shenouda.” In a statement, Kesrouan MP Neamatallah Abi Nasr called on the Egyptian people to establish a system that respects religious and cultural diversity.