VATICAN - Pope in his Angelus address: “Jesus manifests his glory to the apostles so that they have the strength to face the scandal of the cross and understand that it is necessary to pass through many tribulations to reach the Kingdom of God.” - Appeal for Lebanon

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Gospel reading of Jesus’ temptations in the desert, in the First Sunday of Lent, and the event of the Transfiguration in the Second Sunday, “anticipate the Pascal Mystery: Jesus’ battle with the tempter is a prelude to the great final duel of the Passion, while the light of His transfigured Body anticipates the glory of the Resurrection.” This is what the Holy Father Benedict XVI spoke of, prior to the recitation of the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, on February 17th, the Second Sunday of Lent. “On the one hand, we see Jesus as fully man, who shares the trials of temptation with us,” the Pope said, “and on the other, we contemplate the Son of God who divinises our humanity.”
The Holy Father, following his explanation of the meaning of the mountain ( “[it] is the place of the presence of God. It is an elevated place and with respect to daily existence, a place where we breathe the pure air of creation. It is a place of prayer, where we stand in the presence of God.”), he pointed out that, “The transfiguration is an event of prayer. Praying, Jesus is immersed in God, He is united intimately to him, He adheres with His human will to the Father's will of love, and in this way light invades Him and the truth of His being appears visibly: He is God, Light from Light.” He also said that Jesus’ robes, that are “white and luminous," remind us of the white garment of Baptism: “Those who are reborn in Baptism are clothed in light, anticipating heavenly existence, which the Book of Revelation represents with the symbol of white robes.” The Holy Father also showed that “The Transfiguration is an anticipation of the Resurrection, but this presupposes death. Jesus manifests his glory to the apostles so that they have the strength to face the scandal of the cross and understand that it is necessary to pass through many tribulations to reach the Kingdom of God... To enter into life it is necessary to listen to Jesus, to follow Him along the way of the Cross, carrying, like Him, the hope of the resurrection in our heart. ‘Spe salvi,’ saved in hope. Today we can say: ‘Transfigured in hope.’”
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Pope invited the faithful to pray for Lebanon, saying, “I am following with concern the persistent manifestations of tension in Lebanon. For almost three months the country has not been able to appoint a Head of State. Efforts to calm the crisis and the support offered by numerous high-profile members of the international community, even if they have not yet achieved anything, demonstrate the intention to identify a president who will be a president for all Lebanese and in this way create a basis for overcoming the existing divisions. Unfortunately, reasons for worry are not lacking, above all because of the unusual verbal violence and because of those who place their trust in force of arms and in the physical elimination of adversaries. Together with the Maronite patriarch and all the Lebanese bishops, I ask you to join in my supplication of Our Lady of Lebanon, that she encourage the citizens of that dear nation, and the politicians in particular, to work without ceasing for reconciliation, for a truly sincere dialogue, for peaceful co-existence and for the good of a homeland that is deeply felt as common.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/2/2008; righe 40, parole 577)