The Maronite bishops held their monthly meeting in the patriarchal edifice in Bkerke, headed by Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi, with the participation of the general heads of the Maronite monasteries. They studied ecclesiastical and national affairs. At the end of the meeting, they issued a statement read by the Patriarchal Vicar, Bishop Antoine Awkar, in which it said:
“The fathers express their joy at the announcement of the apostolic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Lebanon next June, and while awaiting the announcement of the details of the official program of this visit, they ask God to bless it and fulfill the wishes of His Holiness the Pope for the good of Lebanon and the Lebanese.
The Fathers were pleased with the content of the pastoral visit of His Beatitude, at the invitation of the Archdiocese, Archbishop George Sheehan, to the Arab Republic of Egypt, especially his meetings with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, His Holiness Pope Tawadros, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, His Beatitude Ibrahim Ishaq, Patriarch of Alexandria for the Coptic Catholics, and other spiritual and civic personalities. They expressed their satisfaction with the deep affection that accompanied this visit to Lebanon, and their sincere and grateful desire to continue extending a helping hand to him in his ordeal, at the levels of relief, politics and diplomacy, so that he may return to exercising his bright Arab and human role, with what he treasures of uniqueness in giving and relations, especially Christianity. – Islamic.
Fathers continue to affirm that the parliamentary elections must take place on time, and that citizens choose their representatives in the parliamentary session. This requires that they turn out in large numbers to the polls, so that they exercise their constitutional right to accountability.
The Fathers call upon those concerned to take the plan of economic advancement and reform out of the political debate, in order to protect the good of the country and the people, and to sign the agreement with the International Monetary Fund, and to allow the resumption of the financial and economic life cycle in these delicate circumstances, locally, regionally and internationally.
Parents warn of the persistence of monopoly pressure on the markets for fuel, food, medicine, and others, so that the suffocation of living almost includes most of the Lebanese who live in very difficult financial conditions. They call upon the concerned officials to work firmly to control these markets, liberate citizens from the predominance of greed and from limiting the decision in this regard to the mafias of extortion and organized robbery.
In the face of the aggravation of corruption and mismanagement, the fathers demand the launch of the work of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, and the provision of all necessary support for it to carry out investigations and prosecutions, drawing attention to the fact that this is in the interest of Lebanon at the level of Arab and international donors and supports, and enhances confidence in its ability to rise to the challenges that it faces. Facing him from all sides.
We celebrate the glorious Easter, while Lebanon is still on the cross of its pain, and its people are in the midst of the distress of their livelihood, life and destiny.
The fathers pray to Christ, the risen God, to raise the homeland and its people to the world of hope in Him, so that this feast consecrates the launch of His salvation and theirs, and carries with it the response to our prayers and the prayers of our children, as all believers of our citizens in the one God.