POPE PAUL STOPPED FOR AN HOUR IN BEIRUT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ON HIS WAY TO BOMBAY. HE RECEIVED A TUMULTUOUS WELCOME FROM THOUSANDS OF LEBANESE AT THE AIRPORT. SO MUCH SO THAT HIS AIRCRAFT SCHEDULED 30-MINUTE REFUELLING STOP WAS EXTENDED TO AN HOUR.

CROWDS HAD BEEN AT THE AIRPORT SINCE DAWN WHEN THE BIG AIR INDIA BOEING JET TOUCHED DOWN. IT WAS ON A SCHEDULED COMMERCIAL FLIGHT. THE CROWDS CHEERED AND CHANTED "VIVA IL PAPA" WHEN THE PURPLE AND WHITE-ROBED PONTIFF GAVE THEM HIS BLESSING FROM THE AIRPORT TERMINAL ROOF.

BUT IT WAS SILENCE AS THE POPE GAVE HIS BENEDICTION. THEN CAME A THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE WHEN HE CRIED OUT THREE TIMES: "VIVE LE LEBAN."
("ALSO AMONG THE WELCOMING PARTY WAS THE SYRIAN INFORMATION MINISTER, WHO DELIVERED GREETINGS TO THE POPE FROM THE SYRIAN PRIME MINISTER, LIEUTENANT-GENERAL AMIN AL-HAFEZ. HE EXPRESSED THE SYRIAN PEOPLE'S HOPES THAT THE POPE WOULD STAND BY THE "ARAB RIGHT IN PALESTINE" (ISRAEL). THE POPE REPLIED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS WHICH INTERESTED SYRIA -- AS HAD BEEN OUTLINED BY PRESIDENT HELOU ON BEHALF OF ALL ARAB COUNTRIES).

(BEFORE LEAVING ROME, POPE PAUL ASKED EVERYONE TO REMEMBER THE BROTHERHOOD OF ALL MANKIND).