Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 395

Cyprus is traditionally considered part of the Holy Land, and the situa-

tion of continuing conflict in the Middle East must be a source of concern to

all Christ's followers. No one can remain indifferent to the need to support in

every way possible the Christians of that troubled region, so that its ancient

Churches can live in peace and flourish. The Christian communities of Cyprus

can find a most fruitful area for ecumenical cooperation in praying and

working together for peace, reconciliation and stability in the lands blessed

by the earthly presence of the Prince of Peace.

With these sentiments, Your Beatitude, I thank you once more for your

fraternal welcome, and I assure you of my prayers for you and for all the

clergy and faithful of the Church of Cyprus.

G vaqa* jai g eiqg* mg sot amarsgle* mot Vqirsot* a| ei* mai pa* msose

lafi* rot.

[May the joy of the Risen Christ be always with you!]

III

Iter Apostolicum in Cyprum: Dum Summus Pontifex discedit ex Cypriaco aero-

portu « Larnaca ».*

Mr President,

Distinguished Authorities,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The time has now come for me to leave you, after my brief but fruitful

Apostolic Journey to Cyprus.

Mr President, I thank you for your kind words and I am happy to express

my gratitude to you for all that you, your Government and the civil and

military authorities have done to make my visit such a memorable and

successful one.

As I depart your shores, like many pilgrims before me I am reminded

again of how the Mediterranean is made up of a rich mosaic of peoples with

their distinctive cultures and their beauty, their warmth and their humanity.

In spite of that reality, the Eastern Mediterranean is at the same time no

stranger to conflict and bloodshed, as we have tragically witnessed in recent

* Die 6 Iunii 2010.