Pope Benedict visiting Lebanon at time of Christian-Muslim tension Those fears have been heightened this week as violent protests spurred by a film mocking the prophet Muhammad - a film being promoted by radical members of the Coptic Christian community - have rocked Egypt, Yemen and Libya. The pontiff's arrival is likely to resonate deeply with Christians in neighboring Syria, who have tried to stay on the sidelines of the brutal conflict, increasingly seen as a sectarian civil war, but have been dragged in nonetheless and even directly targeted at times. In anti-government protests in western Syria earlier this year, some hard-line Sunni Islamists reportedly chanted "Alawites to the grave, Christians to Beirut," - a chant which rhymes in Arabic. Syrian President Bashar al Assad and many members of his inner circle are part of the Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Basilious Nassar, a 30-year old Greek Orthodox priest was shot and killed in the Syrian town of Hama last January as he reportedly tried to save a wounded man in the middle of a firefight. It's not clear whether he was shot by rebels or government soldiers. It's unlikely that the pope will address the rise of Islamists in the region directly in public comments, analysts say. Instead, he is expected to preach a message of unity between Christians and Muslims. Syrian Christians are deeply wary of the rebel Free Syrian Army because of reports of hard-line jihadists among the fighters, some of whom have come from outside the country. "The Christians of Syria are looking for someone to get them some peace," said Mariana, a 26-year old Christian from Aleppo who moved to Beirut a month ago. Overall they are happy with the pope's visit because they want someone to support them. They're scared of the Islamic rise to power. In Egypt, many Christians were shaken by the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood in the presidential and parliamentary elections. Ultra-conservative Salafists also did well in the parliamentary elections. Christians in Lebanon are wedged between the Shiite militia and political party of Hezbollah, and Sunni conservatives who have felt empowered by the rise of the Sunni opposition in Syria. Rather than banding together, the Christian political parties in Lebanon have split, with one group supporting a faction which includes Hezbollah while another supports a faction that is now in the opposition and includes most Sunnis. "Christians in Lebanon are, politically, what is keeping the peace between Sunnis and Shiites," said Paul Salem, the director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. Many Lebanese, regardless of their religious background, have welcomed the pope. "The pope's visit is to confirm that the Christian presence in the Middle East is important," said Mustafa Dylani, a 55-year old teacher who is Sunni. He is using love as a weapon before a civil war starts between Christians and Muslims. Those who burn churches and make films about the prophet Mohammad are seeking to encourage this bloodshed. Lebanon has pulled out the stops for the visit: Huge billboards welcoming the pope line the Beirut airport highway, and Vatican flags are strung up across the city. Church bells welcoming the pope rang out in several neighborhoods across Beirut on Friday morning. Hezbollah has even placed posters along the airport road which read, "Welcome to the nation of resistance." During his visit, the pope will meet President Michel Suleiman, who is Christian, along with several other government and religious officials. A huge stage has been built at a seaside location for Sunday Mass at a location which can reportedly hold up to 200,000 people. And security has also been beefed up across Beirut, with soldiers and military vehicles positioned at some key intersections. The last papal visit to Lebanon was in 1997, when thousands of Christians from across the region traveled to Beirut to see John Paul II. Suzan Haidamous and Ahmed Ramadan contributed reporting.