The patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites assures constant prayer for Francis. He then speaks of the commitment of the Lebanese Church at a national level and addresses the issue of Syrian refugees: “We are appealing to the international community and to Syria for the return of refugees, which will happen with the reconstruction of the country, otherwise they are forced to remain in Lebanon. But this is a great economic and political burden for us, we live by a miracle.”
By: Salvatore Cernuzio – Vatican News
Published date:
Beirut – A thought for peace, “certainly possible” in a Middle East marked by violence, and a prayer for Pope Francis, hospitalized for six days at Gemelli. This is how Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, spoke to Vatican media on the sidelines of the 57th Assembly of Catholic bishops and patriarchs of Lebanon, attended also by Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, on a mission in Beirut from February 19 to 23.
Your Beatitude, Lebanon is a country with evident wounds. What is currently the challenge facing the Lebanese Church?
The Church of Lebanon, like all churches, first and foremost takes care of its ecclesiastical mission and also takes care of the country because Lebanon is different from other countries. The Church is recognized, respected by the government, respected by the mass media. Lebanon separates religion and state, but it does not have a state religion: neither Christianity nor Islam. And for this reason, the Church can carry out its mission at an ecclesiastical and national level. Of course, it does not get involved in issues, but it addresses and judges the economic, political life of the country, without being directly involved. So, the Church has a wide field to fill.
One of the main issues is that of Syrian refugees. Lebanon has welcomed over one and a half million refugees. What can be done for them and what are the prospects in light of the new political situation that has arisen in Syria?
One and a half million refugees in Lebanon are Syrians, then half a million are Palestinians. Two and a half million, so half of the country’s inhabitants. Is there any country in the world that can accommodate half when it is an impossible thing? However, we are always appealing to the international community and to Syria for the return of refugees. Certainly, practically speaking, the return can be guaranteed when – hopefully – the reconstruction of Syria begins. If there is no reconstruction of Syria, they are forced to remain in Lebanon, but this is a great economic burden, a great national burden, political, a great commercial burden on the country. We live by a miracle, we can say.
But the welcome is not lacking…
It is not lacking, it is not lacking. We have never closed the borders.
A thought, Your Eminence, on peace. An invocation reiterated in your prayers of Lebanese bishops and patriarchs and in the continuous appeals of the Pope.
Peace is the sum of all the goods that the Lord bestows on the people and nations. The word peace contains all goods. Peace is among us, peace is among the works of men because when Jesus was born they sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace”. Therefore, the Church and Christianity must work to build peace.
And is it possible to imagine a Middle East at peace?
Of course, of course it is possible. Nothing is impossible
We mentioned Pope Francis. What would you like to say to the Holy Father hospitalized at Gemelli?
We have prayed for him publicly and we pray personally. The entire patriarchy prays, each of us wherever we are. May the Lord help you, heal you, endure this situation that we feel is serious. Let’s hope for the best.
