Annual Synod of the Maronite Church

The delay in the election of a new Lebanese president is "an unacceptable violation of the Constitution and of the national covenant". With these words, the Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Bechara Boutros Rai, has launched a new alarm on the stalemate which for weeks has hindered the election of Michel Sleiman’s successor as president of the Lebanese republic, having de facto blocked the institutional life of the Country of the cedars in a particularly critical passage of the situation in the Middle East. 

On Wednesday afternoon, June 11, on opening the annual Synod of the Maronite Church in the patriarchal seat of Bkerké, the Patriarch invited to pray so that the parliamentarians "elect a new President", reiterating that no one has the right to paralyze institutions, the protection of which must prevail "on all individual and sectarian considerations".

The Maronite Synod, after several days of prayer and retreat, will implement its operational phase from 16 to 19 June and will express strong and authoritative considerations on the impasse that continues to deteriorate the Lebanese political framework. The two political blocks of 8 March and 14 March cannot find a unitary consensus on who to elect in place of Suleiman, whose presidential term ended on May 25. 

The complex institutional Lebanese balance provides that the office of President of the Republic is occupied by a Christian Maronite. In recent days, the leader of the Lebanese Forces, Shamir Geagea , attributed to the Maronite Patriarchate the support to a shortlist of three potential candidates - former ministers Damien Kattar, Ziyad Baroud and Roger Dib - declaring his readiness to support one of them. But Bkerké officially denied the existence of candidates "supported" by the Patriarchate.

The Maronite Patriarch in the Holy Land in Pictures

Cardinal Al Rahi, Where no Other Patriarch Has Ever Been Before

In past days, what was surprising was Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Al Rahi’s decision to be present in Bethlehem and Jerusalem on the occasion of the visit of Pope Francis. So far no Maronite Patriarch had gone to Jerusalem after the creation of the State of Israel. Criticism regarding Patriarch Al Rahi’s choice had been expressed in particular by members of the Shiite party of Hezbollah, that saw in the patriarchal visit a gesture of recognition of a State considered an enemy. The Patriarch responded to criticism pointing out that his visit will be spiritual and not political. Approximately 10 thousand Maronite Christians live in the Holy Land. After the end of the papal pilgrimage, Patriarch Rai will also travel to Haifa to meet the faithful of the local Maronite community.

Maronite Patriarch Celebrates Mass in Lourdes

Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Beshara Peter Al Rahi celebrated mass at the Roman Catholic pilgrimage site of Lourdes in France on Sunday on the occasion of the international pilgrimage of the Order of Malta. The Order of Malta’s members and volunteers from all over the world travel each year during the first weekend of May to Lourdes. They accompany the sick and disabled and pray and bathe in the holy waters.

Around 200 Lebanese, among them 24 sick people, took part in the five-day pilgrimage and attended Sunday's mass. The 2014 international pilgrimage was attended by 25,000 faithful from all over the world. This year's event had a greater significance thanks to Cardinal Al Rahi's attendance.

The patriarch celebrated the mass in French but the bible was read in Arabic, the first time such a move has been made in the annual mass. Al Rahi said he prayed that Virgin Mary would salvage the Orient, which is engulfed with hatred. 

Lourdes shrine attracts millions of visitors each year. The Catholic church recognizes 68 miracles linked to it and many disabled or sick people go there to pray for a cure. It has a famous grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, a peasant girl in 1858. The water fountain in Lourdes grotto is miraculous and many miracles are attributed to it.

Cardinal Al Rahi Intervenes On The Election of a New Lebanese President

The election of the new President of the Lebanese Republic is a choice that belongs only to the people of Lebanon "and not to the Iranians, the Saudis or the Americans". It must be carried by the Parliamentary Assembly, and not between underground extra-parliamentary faction agreements that for years have been blocking the proper functioning of state institutions. This is what Cardinal Mar Beshara Peter Al Rahi, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, said in an interview on Tuesday, March 25th for LBCI television network. During the interview, Patriarch Rahi repeatedly referred to the president of Parliament Nabih Berri to convene the Parliamentary Assembly immediately in order to allow MPs to begin the choice of possible candidates for the Presidency of the Republic as soon as possible.

The call to immediately involve Parliament, expressed by the Patriarch, is in contrast to the moves of those who instead aim to entrust the choice of a new President to pre-agreements between the two political majority blocs - the March 8 Coalition and the March 14 Coalition - which for years affect the political life of the Country of the cedars .The current incumbent President, Michel Sleiman, will end his term on May 25. In the institutional system in force in Lebanon, the office of President of the Republic belongs to a Christian. The concerns expressed by the head of the Maronite Church concern the possibility that the contrast between the blocs could lead to an impasse.

The Patriarch reiterated that he does not intend to indicate the names of the presidential office. But he added that in the event of a deadlock, he will announce the list of candidates preferred by the people of Lebanon, on the basis of the guidelines documented by surveys and research opinion polls. With regard to the candidate profile, Patriarch Rai stressed the urgency of finding a "modern person who knows how to deal with the affairs of the state", reiterating that Lebanese citizens are the only ones allowed to choose their President, "and not the Iranians, the Saudis or the Americans".

The Cardinal and Patriarch Rahi also revealed meeting with diplomats from various countries to ask them to keep Lebanon out of the Syrian conflict, negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program and tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, in order to ensure that the election of the President is not affected by regional and international tensions.When asked about the militias linked to the Hezbollah Shiite party, Patriarch Rahi stressed that they cannot operate outside of the jurisdiction of the State and must be part of the national defense strategy.

Monthly Meeting of the Maronite Bishops, March 2014

On March 5, 2014, their Excellencies the Maronite bishops held their monthly meeting at the patriarchal seat  in Bkerke under the chairmanship of His Beatitude and Eminence Cardinal Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai and with the participation of His Beatitude and Eminence Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, and superior  generals of the Maronite religious orders. They discussed ecclesiastical and national affairs and published at the end of the meeting, the following statement:

1. His Beatitude informed the fathers of the results of his visit to Rome where he took part in the General Assembly of the Synod for Catholic Education, the meetings of the College of Cardinals, the promotion ceremony of the new cardinals and Papal Mass of His Holiness the Pope for the occasion. He was received by His Holiness Pope Francis and he thanked him for his positions on humanitarian issues, Lebanon, current events in the Middle East and the future of Christians.

2. Faced with national unanimity which has been the "national Memorandum" announced by His Beatitude on the feast of Saint Maron, the fathers hope that the new government would be inspired in his ministerial statement to define priorities for the coming short term period preceding the election of a new president.There was no need to address issues that can not be resolved but only through national dialogue and within the framework of constitutional institutions. Especially since the formation of the government was approved by the majority, both inside and outside, and that the Lebanese have welcomed, seeing a way for the due presidential election.

3. The Fathers deplored the campaign against His Excellency the President following his recent speech at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, alleging the infringement of his personal dignity and status of head of state and symbol of national unity, as stipulated in Article 49 of the constitution. Indeed, when the arrow hits the head, the whole body suffers. We call on all parties to put an end to this campaign, to respect the dignity of all, the dignity of the chief magistracy, and the dignity of the country. While his Excellency the President takes part today in Paris, with the accompanying delegation in the conference of countries supporting Lebanon, we wish the success of this conference and thank the participants for their support on the international recovery of the economy and stability of Lebanon, on strengthening the army and resolving problems related to displaced Syrians.

4. The Fathers praised the efforts of the Lebanese security agencies and army to deal with terrorism, kidnapping and all kinds of theft. They consider that the strengthening of the military and security forces are urgently needed in view of the state of insecurity in Lebanon and the attempts to establish a self-security. All this may make Lebanon a state without borders and in which citizens do not feel safe.

5. The Fathers severely condemn the latest Israeli raid on Lebanon and the continuous aggression from Israel against the sovereignty of the Lebanese state. Likewise, they strongly condemn the Syrian shelling affecting parts of Lebanon, and the usurpation of the border with Syria to sow unrest in Lebanon. Such usurpation shows how - oh excessive - some Lebanese factions are involved in the Syrian crisis, while it is required to play a different role which converge towards a peaceful solution to protect the lives of innocent citizens and avoid the destruction of homes and infrastructure, and displacement of people.

6. The Fathers received with great apprehension the reports about attacks against Christians in Syria, by fundamentalist forces, imposing laws that violate their religious and civil liberty, and which oppose the live- together Christians and Muslims for several centuries in the region. The Fathers call upon the UN, the Arab and Islamic countries, especially those weighing directly on these forces to intervene immediately and put an end to such attacks that have indeed nothing to do with Islam as we know it.

7. Lent is the to return to God and to oneself, so that man discovers his true vocation and sublime dignity, grounded in the love of God, and through Jesus Christ, has become close to every man so that every man, become closer to God. Faced with such a love, man discovers his greatness and, hence, his poverty, notably his moral poverty in what is called civilization of consumption and earning race, which has transformed humans into commodities rather "junk", according to Pope Francis. We invite our faithful to make this Lent a time to repent to God and solidarity with man, with every man whose dignity has been lost or humiliated, especially in our Middle East which has witnessed countless wars and dramas.

Pope Francis Makes New Appointments in the Maronite Church

On Monday, January 13, the Holy Father erected the new apostolic exarchate for the Maronite faithful resident in Western and Central Africa, in ad Ibadan, Nigeria.

- appointed Rev. Simon Faddoul, president of Caritas-Lebanon, as the first apostolic exarch without episcopal title, and as apostolic visitor for the Maronite faithful resident in Southern Africa.

- appointed Bishop Georges Chihane, eparchal vicar of Cairo and Sudan of the Maronites, as apostolic vistor for the Maronite faithful resident in the countries of North Africa nost included in the eparchal territory.

- appointed Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, emeritus of Mossul, Iraq, and bishop of the Syro-Catholic patriarchal curia, as apostolic visitor for the faithful of Syrian rite resident in Western Europe.

Monthly Meeting of the Maronite Bishops, January 08, 2014

Lebanon looks like Prometheus, the mythological greek friend of mankind, punished by the gods for having brought to men the gift of fire. In the same way, the Land of the cedars is affected because in an area of the world torn by sectarian strife, from ethnic-religious cleansing to clashes to impose obscurantist regimes. Thus, resorting to Greek mythology, the monthly Assembly of the Maronite bishops - was held on Wednesday, January 8 in the patriarchal seat in Bkerké under the presidency of Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai - who described the condition of the Country in this dramatic historical moment, calling on all the Lebanese "to renew their act of faith in Lebanon as an entity and as a formula, preserving the role and the mission carried out in the region and within the international community".

The sectarian and political reasons invoked to justify "the reign of terror that one tries to impose with car bombs, with growing instability and various attacks", reads the final communiqué of the Assembly, pose all Lebanese together in front of the responsibility to avoid their homeland to be turned into a devastated land".Lebanon has lived without a government for nine months. The vetoes of opposing political blocks paralyze the Country's political life, as they approach the presidential elections, scheduled for next May. The bishops in their statement urge all parliamentarians "to take charge of their duties", hastening to form a government that measures up to the dramatic moment experienced by the Country and ensuring the continuity of vital institutions.

Bkerke is Against a "Fait Accompli" Government in Lebanon

The highest representatives of the Maronite Church are opposed to the formation of a "fait accompli" government that does not represent the balance of political forces operating in the Country of the Cedars. This was declared by Bishop Boulos Nabil El-Sayah, with reference to the considerations attributed to the Maronite Curia. "The Maronite Patriarch is against the formation of a "fait accompli" government because such a step could exacerbate the political impasse", said Bishop El-Sayah in an interview published in the newspaper Al-Joumhouria. The idea of creating such a government, according to the Maronite Bishop, is a danger to "the entire Lebanese society", because it risks aggravating the conflicting tendencies that already afflict the Country after the recent new wave of attacks.

The political stalemate in Lebanon which began eight months ago because of the vetoes of the two political blocs - the coalition on March 8 and the coalition on March 14 – appears to be untenable, now that the Country seems to be falling back into chaos. The March 8 coalition - which includes the Hezbollah Shiite party and the Free Patriotic Current, led by the Maronite general Michel Aoun - has proposed the formation of a government that confers 9 ministers in each of the two opposing blocs and 6 ministers to centrist independents. This proposal contrasts with the idea of a "neutral" government, which wants Hezbollah out of the government and this would have the likely side effect of postponing the presidential elections, scheduled for next May.

Christmas Photos From Bkerke

Maronite Patriarch Along With Six Other Cardinals To Catholic Education

Pope Francis on Saturday November 30, confirmed Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski as prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and Archbishop Angelo Vincenzo Zani as secretary, and appointed seven cardinals as members of the dicastery.

The seven cardinals include: Béchara Boutros Raï, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch; Odilo Pedro Scherer, archbishop of São Paulo; John Njue, archbishop of Nairobi; Timothy Michael Dolan, archbishop of New York; John Tong Hon, bishop of Hong Kong; Luis Antonio G. Tagle, archbishop of Manila; and Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. 

He also appointed the following archbishops as members of the dicastery: Beniamino Stella, prefect for the Congregation for the Clergy; Ricardo Ezzati Andrello of Santiago de Chile; Marek Jędraszewski of Łódź; and Jorge Carlos Patrón Wong, secretary for seminaries for the Congregation for the Clergy.

The Pope confirmed the following cardinals as members of the dicastery: Antonio María Rouco Varela, Christoph Schönborn, Audrys Juozas Bačkis, Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, José da Cruz Policarpo, Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Josip Bozanić, Péter Erdő, Marc Ouellet, Jean-Pierre Ricard, Oswald Gracias, Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, Reinhard Marx, Thomas Christopher Collins, Willem Jacobus Eijk, Leonardo Sandri, Gianfranco Ravasi, Fernando Filoni, João Braz de Aviz, and Edwin Frederick O'Brien. 

He also confirmed the following archbishops as members of the dicastery: Alfredo Horacio Zecca, Gerhard Ludwig Müller, and Charles Morerod.

Pope Francis Gives Maronite Patriarch a new Appointment

On Saturday, November 30, 2013, Pope Francis Appointed Maronite Patriarch, Cardinal Mar Beshara Peter Rahi as member in the Congregation for Catholic Education in the Vatican for five years. The main activities of this congregation are to spread the principles of Catholic education and apply it in the Catholic schools, universities and seminaries. 

This congregation has the power to authorize the establishment of canonic universities and institutes, to organize its laws and regulations, and to preserve the Catholic doctrinal education within such centres, and to promote collaboration and communication between them.

Cardinal Al Rahi is also member in several congregations, among them the Council for Oriental Churches, the Papal Council for Media, the Papal Council for Expatriates and others.

Maronite Patriarch Celebrates Lebanese Independence Day in Rome

Maronite Patriarch Mar Beshara Peter Al Rahi has celebrated Lebanese Independence Day in Rome, Italy during a ceremony hosted by the Lebanese Ambassador to Italy and with the participation of the Italian Speaker of the Senate, the Army Commander and the secretary of State representing the Italian Government. Also were present Patriarchs and Heads of Catholic Oriental Churches as well as several Arab and foreign countries Ambassadors to Italy.

During his speech, Cardinal Al Rahi congratulated the Lebanese President and people on this day, remembering the Patriotic role of Patriarch Elias Al Hoayek in 1920 prior to the announcement of the State of Greater Lebanon, as well as the important role played by Patriarch Antoine Arida in 1943 in the declaration of the independence of Lebanon and the end of the french Mandate.

The Maronite Patriarch also relayed Pope Francis' salute to all Lebanese people as the holy father was holding the day before an assembly with the Heads of the Catholic Churches about the Middle East and Christians. Cardinal Al Rahi added that Lebanon will be celebrating a dear occasion in 7 years, in 2020 which will commemorate the declaration of the State of greater Lebanon and its independence.

He also called for parliamentary elections with a new electoral law as well as presidential elections on next spring and the formation of a new Government. The Patriarch concluded by recalling the importance of Lebanon in the region and its strong ties with the Vatican and Italy.

Maronites to Observe a Day of Prayer and Fasting for the Syrian People

Maronites in Lebanon and all over the World will be marking on Saturday, September 07 a day of fasting and prayer and a holy vigil as called for by Pope Francis, for Syrian people and Syria. The monthly communiqué of the Maronite Bishops held in Diman treasured the Pope's appeal and instructed all Maronite parishes, monasteries and religious centers to organize this day of prayer and fasting and to arrange for a holy vigil in the evening, in participation with Pope Francis who will be observing with the faithful a Holy Vigil at Saint Peter's square in the Vatican, beginning from 7:00 pm till midnight.

This day of prayer and fasting comes at the eve of the birthday of Virgin Mary and it has a symbolic meaning as to why Pope Francis has chosen such date to call upon the Universal church and the whole World to pray for peace in Syria and in the Middle East. Mary is the queen of peace and on her birthday she is known to grant abundant graces upon those who ask for it. Christians around the world will be asking through her intercession today for mercy and peace on behalf of the innocent souls that are being killed, tortured and devastated everyday in Syria.

This appeal from Pope Francis has found a lot of support among political leaders, who found it to be a very noble and humble gesture and probably the best gift one can offer today to the Syrian population, amid the current international tensions where interests and divisions are reigning. 

Call of the Maronite Bishops, April 03, 2013

On April 3, 2013, the Maronite bishops held their monthly meeting under the chairmanship of his Beatitude and Eminence, Patriarch Bechara Boutros Raï, with the participation of his Beatitude and Eminence the Patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, and in the presence of the superior generals. After expressing their wishes for Easter to their sons and to all Lebanese, and gave thanks to God for having given the church a new Supreme Pontiff, in the person of the Pope Francis, and after discussing the situation in the country, the fathers have decided, due to the historical responsibility that falls on the Maronite Patriarchate, to send to the Lebanese in general and more particularly to those in charge, the following call:

The feast of the Resurrection is the victory of life over death and freedom over slavery, notably on slavery of sin which command humankind and which extends to the social-political structures. This Feast encourages us to make the reading of our critical reality which is at the mercy of more than a sin against the entity and the State. Also we decided to remind and to warn: Lebanon needs the spirit of Easter and to be relieved of acts committed against it. He needs a deep repentance due to the severe decline in attachment to the State, decline which failed to impair the entity. This manifests brilliantly in the weakening of the love of the homeland in many. This weakening goes hand in hand with the eclipse of the spirit of national and political responsibility among many officials in the public sector, and Lebanon finds itself prisoner of the political divisions at the risk of losing its national unity, existence of any condition.

The moment of truth has come. People in charge, we appeal to your conscience: the country is not a place for private projects, nor a field of experiments, nor a card in the hands of anyone or any State or party. The great responsibility that lies on you incites you not to falter before what threatens the State, its unity and cohesion. Lebanon cannot survive if each party seeks to impose on others by ignoring the truth on which the Country is based, namely, the National Pact, which is summed up in this: Lebanon is a country for all, its affairs are the responsibility of all in solidarity, without that one or the other category monopolizes anything. The national pact is now threatened by one-sided directives contrary to the spirit of the agreement. In fact,  agreements are only based on the postulates of the constitution, not on equations imposed by such and such.

These postulates require policy-makers to take account, inter alia, of the following:

1 - The Lebanese people shall not serve as fuel for any political conflict, they are citizens who have fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution which in the first place: the right to life, to freedom and progress, and no one is allowed to take away these rights. It is therefore incumbent on policymakers to protect these rights by not curbing the political power to personal considerations, and in not turning security agencies into negotiators with those who violate these rights. Policy makers have to comply with the procedures of the constitution, to separate security from politics for the good of all, not to make of security agencies political divisions, categorical or even regional, in order to neutralize them. We have all experienced the lack of seriousness in security and Lebanon should not slide into insecurity.

2 - The vacancies at the level of the executive positions makes no service to anyone, it rather introduces the country in a State of political chaos that nobody can guess the outcome. The experiences of previous governments show that any Government which founding, objective and goals are not purely Lebanese, i.e., not imbued by the constitution and the Covenant or based on the good of the citizens, resembles a building built on sand. Similarly, any Government deprived of general overview will fail, and any Government that stumbles at the start will end up being paralyzed. All this invites us to reflect deeply on what we need from Lebanese Governments, and the interests served by these Governments.

3 - Meeting the constitutional deadlines is the best proof of the sincerity of the different parties regarding the safeguarding of democracy and the constitution. These parties are responsible for lifting the political tutelage after the lifting, o how Sung, the military guardianship. A new electoral law is neither a point of view nor a negotiation. It is an obligatory question which cannot be overlooked. It is a question of law and fair application guaranteed by the national pact and the constitution. As a result, the laxity in electoral law which ensures the true representation of all, touches the bottom of the Pact and no one, in our opinion, is able to bear the results. Indeed, the Pact is not a matter of numbers, it is rather related to the nature of the Lebanese identity. Therefore, after studying for seven years electoral bills, members do not have the right not to ratify the fairer act, the more equitable and that suits all Lebanese, a law which replaces the 60 and avoids the country to renew the current status.

4 - The economic situation threatens the country to a bleak future. It is therefore the duty of the political class to reform. Indeed, the economy is one of the fundamental factors of stability. It is not a private resource annexing and endangering the country and the citizen.

5 - The question of the sovereignty of the State directs everyone to seek to assert the neutrality of Lebanon and its integration into the regional and international routes. Lebanon is neither a map nor a scene for parties to achieve their aims. We want it to be a beacon, not a small lantern, on the Mediterranean. This requires that people in charge be persuaded of the usefulness of this neutrality, and to work for getting a clear national and general will on this subject, and to seek to persuade international and regional instances of the positive role that Lebanon may play, free from regional conflicts, if it is given to its people to live in peace.

if Lebanon fails to return to what it was for all, a land of encounter and coexistence, a democratic State on the Mediterranean, its existence would no longer have any value. This requires a decision from all Lebanese , and no one else will replace them to make this decision.

Cardinal Rai's Role Extends Beyond His Religious Ministry

Consultations between the Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites Boutros Bechara Rai and political leaders of the Lebanese delegation, who arrived in the City to attend the opening Mass of the Petrine ministry of Pope Francis, continue in Rome. Discussions are focusing on the impasse on the electoral law that is paralyzing the political life in Lebanon in a very delicate moment, while there is a growing risk that the Syrian conflict destabilizes the Country of the Cedars.Yesterday Patriarch Rai - who as a member of the College of Cardinals took part in the Conclave - had extensive discussions with the President of the House Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nagib Mikati. Consultations continued on Monday 18 at the Maronite Pontifical College in Via di Porta Pinciana with the participation of the Lebanese Minister of the Environment Nazem Khoury, who is also in Rome.

On Sunday 17, the President of the Chamber Berri issued to the Lebanese press statements full of expectations: "As the white smoke has risen from this country," said the Lebanese politician of Shiite confession "we hope that the prayers of the Patriarch, as well as the initiative on his behalf will help us to raise a white smoke meaning the end of our problems, especially with regard to the electoral law." 

Interview Du Cardinal Al Rahi Avec KTO Sur L'election du Pape François

Q: Quelle était votre impression en rentrant à la première Messe avec le Pape François alors que vous avez fait la meme entrée avec lui au conclave?

R: Oui nous avons senti la serenité ce soir, au début du conclave nous étions tous émus meme tendus, voulant chercher la volonte de Dieu, mais ce soir nous étions detendus et tranquilles et soucieux d'entendre les premières paroles du Pape, nous avons compris son style et son programme dirais-je en ces 3 mots qu'il a dit: marcher, édifier et confesser, pour témoigner l'eglise et confesser Jesus Christ le crucifié. 

Q: Je voudrais revenir un peu sur un mot que vous avez employé, le programme du Pape? 

R: C'est un programme qu'il a appelé: "une église qui est en marche" nous devons tous marcher avec l'église, sinon ca ne va pas aller (avec un sourire...) il veut donc que tous nous marchions vers l'eglise qui est pelerine dans ce monde, il faut s'appuyer sur 3 forces: en marchant il faut édifier l'eglise el la communauté écclesiale, et en édifiant la communauté écclesiale il faut confesser Jesus Christ. Et Cela veut dire qu'il centre sur la personne de Jesus et Jesus crucifié. Et Je pense qu'en choisissant le nom de François et surtout François d'Assise, c'est justement comme vrai Jesuite et bon Jesuite, c'est la radicalité de Jesus et la centralité de Jesus. Voila ce que je comprends de cette première homélie ou bien méditation. Nous avons bien compris que ce Pape va vraiment avoir dans son pontificat la centralité de Jesus qu'il puisse réunir et rayonner.

Q: Comment vous avez vu ce geste du Saint Pere qui s'incline devant la foule?

R: C'est tres joli, tres joli et nous l'avons dans notre liturgie, mais quand meme c'était tres émouvant. Quand le pretre arrive a l'Autel il regarde l'assemblée et il s'incline et leur dit: priez pour moi le seigneur. Cela m'a rappelé hier ce geste, mais c'est tres émouvant de la part du Pape. Et nous avons compris combien le Pape a besoin de la priere de l'église. Il a voulu etre rempli de la grace divine avant de pouvoir donner sa bénédiction. Voila le médiateur, le pretre, le sacerdoce mediateur qui prie avec le peuple pour avoir la benediction de Dieu et la donner, et c'est tres émouvant et tres joli.

Q: Comment vous avez recu le nom de Francois et comment se sont passés les premiers contacts avec le Pape apres son election?

R: Quand il a choisi le nom de Francois en mémoire de François d'Assise, il avait d'abord dit en latin: je suis pauvre et je suis pecheur et je prends le nom de Francois et nous avons tous compris que c'est son style, c'est sa spiritualité, c'est la conversion, la pénitence, la pauvreté et aujourd'hui avec l'homélie c'est la construction de l'église, il nous a rappelé tout de suite toute l'histoire de Saint François d'Assise et nous a fait songer d'un pape qui a revé que Francois tienne l'eglise. Il a entendu beaucoup durant cette semaine combien nous avons de défis dans les differents continents du monde, je pense qu'il a pris tout cela et il a decidé de prendre le nom de François. Voila son programme de vie a mon sens qu'on peut construire l'eglise dans la penitence, la simplicité, l'humilité et la pauvrete de la croix.

Q: Comment vous avez vu le fait que le Pape est un jesuite et qu'il hérite des habits de Dominicains et qu'il prend le nom de François?

R: Personne de nous n'a pensé si c'est un jésuite ou pas c'est plutot sa personne. Mais pour moi je me suis dis la companie de Jesus merite un Pape, ils ont donné beaucoup ils ont servi beucoup l'église et comme disait le pere Lombardi que les jesuites sont les personnes envoyées, maintenant ma reaction c'est que le Pape est un garnd envoyé, c'est l'envoyé par excellence, il est envoyé par Jesus Christ, voila c'est toujours dans la ligne mais c'est l'envoyé par excellence. Moi j'admire cela.

Q: Le message du Pape c'est un appel a la paix et a la fraternite pour le monde entier et pas seulement les catholiques? 

R: C'est vrai en fait le nom de Francois est lié a la fraternité et a la paix, vous vous rappelez du chant de Saint Francois, lui qui appelait freres et soeurs les animaux et les betes sauvages et les hommes. Je pense que c'est la pensée du Pape de construire la fraternité dans ce monde, la paix dont le monde a vraiment besoin. Nous vivons la mondialisation, la globalisation et nous vivons des distances énormes entre les hommes et les personnes humaines. A partir de la famille, la societé, les Etats, c'est une grande division c'est tout a fait le contraire de la globalisation. Donc je pense que le Pape a ce programme en choisissant le nom de Francois, paix et fraternité, donc dialogue.

Q: On avait besoin d'un Pape plus jeune? plutot un manager? mais vous avez choisi un spirituel!

R: Maintenant il est le Pape n'est ce pas? alors il résume toutes les attentes et toutes les perspectives des gens. Meme avec tout ce qu'on a exprimé nous meme durant la semaine des congrégations, voila c'est le don de Dieu. Il est choisi par Dieu d'abord! un des cardinaux avait dit le premier jour: soyez tranquilles le Pape a déja été choisi par l'esprit saint! nous nous avons a le trouver, allons a la decouverte, et nous l'avons decouvert. Alors pour moi il résume tout, tout ce que vous voulez: le spirituel le manager le directeur le missionaire, tout ce que vous voulez, il résume la personne voulue par Dieu aujourd'hui et il porte avec lui tout les défis que nous avons exprimé des differentes parties du monde. 

Q: C'est un Pape Latino Americain, est ce que cela compte? est ce qu'il est le Pape de l'Amérique Latine ou bien de tout le monde?

R: Le Pape avait dit -juste pour dire- ils sont allés loin me chercher, mais pour nous nous n'avons pas été loin, dans l'eglise il n'y a pas de loin ou de proche, voila la beauté de l'eglise nous sommes tous la c'est le corps mystique du Christ, c'est comme le corps humain: je ne peux pas dire que mon pied est loin de ma tete, c'est moi. c'est ca le mystere de l'eglise il n'y a pas de distance. on est la c'est le Christ qui nous uni : Christ Totum, c'est le Christ en totalite comme le dit Augustin: Christus Totus et nous n'avons jamais pensé si on va chercher un Argentin ou un Asiatique, ce sont des choses géographiques, mais pour nous ce n'est pas cela. Et d'ailleurs il était le plus present -sans dévoiler des secrets- dans ce conclave et a partir du premier jour, alors pas de distance et c'est la beauté de l'eglise. D'ailleurs c'est Saint Paul qui l'avait dit: que le Christ a rapproché tout le monde, il a détruit tous les murs qui séparent les gens. C'est ca l'eglise une, Sainte, Catholique et cela fait plaisir qu'on est tous Un dans notre diversité et notre variété et nous nous sentons ainsi! 

Lebanese Youth Await Participation in Good Friday at the Colosseum

When a committee of Catholic youth in Lebanon set out to compose the meditations for the Way of the Cross, they had no idea that a new pope would preside over the Good Friday service at Rome's Colosseum.

By custom, the pope invites a cardinal or an ecclesial community to prepare the meditations. This year is the first that young people of a particular country were asked to participate. Pope Benedict XVI invited the youth of Lebanon to participate through Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, who was named a cardinal in November 2012.

The meditations were submitted to the Vatican Feb. 10, the day before Pope Benedict announced he would resign. "Now, on Good Friday, the Lebanese Catholic youth will be like a bridge between Pope Benedict XVI and his successor, because it will be one of the first official ceremonies of the new pope after he is elected," said Father Toufic Bou Hadir, who directs the Maronite patriarchate's youth programs.

More importantly, Father Bou Hadir said, "We are taking all the wounds and suffering of the Middle East and uniting it with the passion of Christ and the prayers of the universal church."

Describing the opportunity to compose the meditations as "a great honor," Father Bou Hadir said the invitation is considered as a symbolic gesture of gratitude from the pope for the warm welcome he received from young people during his Apostolic visit to Lebanon in September 2012.

Pope Benedict XVI's meeting with Lebanese Youth on
September 15, 2012 in Bkerke

Some 20,000 young people gathered on the grounds of Bkerke, the seat of the Maronite Catholic Church north of Beirut, to meet Pope Benedict Sept. 15, waving papal flags, singing and chanting in what amounted to an energy-filled World Youth Day for the Middle East.

In his speech that day, Pope Benedict told the throngs of young people that they were "the hope and the future" of Lebanon. "You are living today in this part of the world which witnessed the birth of Jesus and the growth of Christianity," the pope said. "It is a great honor. It is also a summons to fidelity, to love of this region and, above all, to your calling to be witnesses and messengers of the joy of Christ."

Under the direction of Cardinal Rai, the task of composing the 14 meditations was divided equally among committees from the six rites of the Catholic Church represented in Lebanon: Latin, Maronite, Melkite, Armenian, Syriac and Chaldean. In addition, six Catholic youth groups, a special needs group and a nongovernmental organization were randomly chosen and assigned a station to focus on, "so as to be fair and transparent" Father Bou Hadir said.

"It was a very beautiful experience, because working together with all the different rites, gave us an opportunity to live a real communion in the church," Sister Gioia, 29, a member of the Maronite Mission of Life congregation, said of her participation: "It gave the youth a chance to really say what is in their hearts," she explained. "We tried to show the biggest difficulties facing the youth, not just in Lebanon but for the whole Middle East, so that we can unite them with Jesus Christ on that (Good Friday)."

Yet in all the passages, "there's a vision toward the resurrection, a hope," noted Tattiana Rouhana, a member of the patriarch's youth committee. "We believe that even if our youth are living difficulties, they will surpass it, through the help of God."

The format each group followed for its assigned station begins with a passage or verse from the Bible. The accompanying meditation is based on Pope Benedict's apostolic exhortation on the church in the Middle East presented during his visit to Lebanon. Each meditation then is followed by a prayer.

When meeting the youth in September, Pope Benedict said his exhortation also was meant for them: "Read it carefully and meditate upon it so as to put it into practice," he said.

As part of their research, the groups referred to ancient texts, including those written by St. Ephrem the Syrian, patron saint of the Syriac Catholic Church. The icons that were to be used in the procession came from St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church in Roanoke, Virginia.

Pierre Nacouzi, a 32-year-old engineer who serves on the Maronite patriarch's youth committee, said the main objective of the effort "is to pray with all Catholics in the world and to present our suffering here, and also to be a testimony of God's love. It's a way of saying, 'Don't forget that Christ was born here, and here is the origin of Christianity. Don't forget the Christians of the Middle East,'" Nacouzi said.

About one-third of Lebanon's 4 million citizens are Christian.

Cardinal Al Rahi: To Return To a Complete Unity of Christians

"We are preparing a meeting of all Orthodox and Catholic Patriarchs of the Middle East, to promote unity among Christians and deal with the problems and suffering that we share in this difficult moment in history." This was announced by Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, in these latest days in Rome to attend the conclave. 

The summit with the Patriarchs in the Middle East will be an important network of ecumenical contacts which in recent months have involved the Head of the Maronite Church, who was elevated to the dignity of cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in the last Consistory of 24 November 2012. Earlier that month, Patriarch Rai had attended the enthronement of the new Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II in Cairo, Egypt. And on 10 February, he was the only patriarch who attended the enthronement of the new Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Yohanna X Yazigi, which took place in Damascus.

"The opportunity to return to a complete unity," Patriarch Rai explains "is studied at high levels. Meanwhile, we can live communion at a concrete level of the evangelical proclamation and sharing of social, charitable and cultural initiatives. We are talking about concrete ecumenism, without much talking. It is ecumenism that many baptized are already living in their daily lives."

Cardinal Rai has had recent meetings with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I and the Orthodox Archbishop of Athens Hieronymos. From February 26 to March 1, before coming to Rome for the Conclave, Patriarch Rai visited the Russian capital following the invitation of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. During the moscovite trip, The Head of the Maronite Church had long conversations with Kirill and the Metropolitan Hilarion around the current plight of Christians in the Middle East. His Eminence Rai in Moscow also met the President of Duma Sergei Naryshkin with some of his collaborators, expressing appreciation for the line in favor of a negotiation between the regime and the opposition assumed by Russia on the Syrian conflict.

Cardinal Al Rahi Speaks About the Conclave From the Vatican

He was one of the last to land in Rome but he got to work immediately alongside the other cardinals. On Wednesday, March 06, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, Cardinal Bechara Raï, handed cardinals with a dossier on the situation of Christians in the Middle East: “The universal Church and the next Pope must never forget that Christianity has its origins in the Middle East. And they should keep in mind what is happening to Christian communities in the Middle East. This is a priority that cannot be ignored,” the Lebanese cardinal said. 

Your Holiness, as leader of the Church in the Middle East, what would you say the region’s Christians expect from the Conclave?

I wouldn’t say everyone is thinking about what has happened over the past few years. A million and a half Christians have fled from post-Saddam Iraq. And at least 60% have left Aleppo. There is not one Christian left in Homs. The Coptic Church in Egypt is still strong. But with the new Sharia-based laws, things are going to get much harder. Then there are the problems in the Holy Land… Cardinals will also need to take this into consideration during the Conclave. If we only discuss the Church’s internal problems we risk being one-track minded. This is why I have handed out a dossier on the current condition of Christians in the Middle East to cardinals. Christians have been there for two thousand years. They have helped shape local civilization and culture. They have transmitted a sense of moderation to Islam. Real Islam is moderate. It is not that which is preached by fundamentalists whom Eastern and Western countries load up with arms and money out of political and economic interest.

How did Lebanon react to the news of Benedict XVI’s resignation?

Everyone saw it as an act of strong and humble faith and self-denial. A “Kenosis”. Muslims were full of admiration. Some of them asked themselves: what is Christianity? The man who holds the highest position in the Catholic Church voluntarily stepped down! It was also seen as an example by laymen: he showed that one’s responsibilities, whichever these may be, should be faced with an honest conscience.

Before you came to Rome for the Conclave you were in Moscow. What were the expectations expressed there?

I was invited by Moscow’s patriarch, Kirill. We spoke for hours about the situation faced by Christians in the Middle East and the possibility for collaboration on a cultural, religious and social level; we also talked about the promotion of unity between Catholic and Orthodox Churches in the Middle East for the good of the region and about how to create awareness of the Christian faith among Muslims. I was glad to see the Russian Orthodox Church is blossoming again: the Church has 184 dioceses across the world and the Patriarch ordained 60 bishops in the space of just a few years. I also met the Chairman of the State Duma, Sergej Naryshkin, and his advisors: what is happening in the Middle East today has nothing to do with the advent of democracy. The political interests of external powers are trying to destabilize the entire area, fomenting inter-confessional conflicts among Muslims. And when chaos breaks out, the Christians killed are often innocent victims.

You are one of the four leaders of Eastern Catholic Churches who will be taking part in the Conclave. What will your contribution be? Could one of you be elected Pope or are there any ecclesiological obstacles?

Our presence in the Catholic Church testifies the Church’s diversity and richness. Can one of us become Pope? The papacy is a divine vocation. The Lord chooses the person he wants. In as far as the cardinals are concerned, they must join together in prayer and discussion to identify through suffrage who God’s chosen one is.

Is there a legitimate and pastoral opportune way of taking geo-political factors into account when electing the Pope?

One always hopes that one of their own country’s candidates will be chosen; someone who knows and is is able to deal with problems and pastoral emergencies experienced in their own part of the world. But we cannot have a Pope for each country. What is important is that the General Congregation discussions give a truthful picture of the Church’s condition in all parts of the world so that the new Pope is aware of the new challenges and expectations that exist and is aided in exercising a ministry that is by nature universal.

But what would Middle Eastern Christians think if a U.S. Pope were to be elected?

They would see him as a Pope and that’s all. Both Christians and Muslims in the Middle East venerate the figure of the Pope, no matter who he is. Criticisms against him simply do not exist. The Pope is the Pope and it makes no difference to them whether he is American, Spanish, Italian or other.