Paul Kanaan: The Vatican isn't measured by the number of tanks, and popes changed the course of history
The Secretary-General of the Maronite League, attorney Paul Youssef Kanaan, responded to remarks made by MP General Jamil el Sayyed, emphasizing that “the Vatican’s role is not measured by the number of tanks, nor is the strength of nations and spiritual institutions reduced to their military capabilities.
Kanaan said: “The Vatican is spiritually, politically, and diplomatically active in the world, and it works tirelessly for Lebanon, its sovereignty, and its stability. Popes have long changed the course of history, from Pope John Paul II and those before and after him, through their stances and their moral and international influence, not through the force of arms.”
He added: “We believe first and foremost in ourselves, as a state, with our institutions and sovereign decision-making, and we cooperate with Lebanon’s friends, foremost among them the Holy See, to protect Lebanon and consolidate its presence and role. President Joseph Aoun’s outreach to the Vatican and other influential capitals is a national duty, because defending Lebanon requires mobilizing all available political and diplomatic leverage.”
Kanaan concluded: “The logic of tanks alone does not build or protect nations, and history has proven that principled stances are capable of changing the balance of power, and that the voice of truth, when coupled with a steadfast national will and effective international action, can be stronger than weapons.”
